21-Dec-08 – afternoon shift 12 noon to 9 pm
Around at 12 am I went to Guru Maharaja’s room to join with Bhadra
Balaram prabhu. The physiotherapy doctor came to give bed exercises to Guru
Maharaja. The exercises were for his hands, legs and trunk. He was able to
sit at the edge of the bed for quite sometime and only with the support of
his hands. He was made to stand and sit for two times with the
support of the walker and with the help of devotees. The doctors are
focusing now to teach Guru Maharaja to stand on his own. Guru Maharaja sat
on a chair and took prasadam. After his prasadam he took rest.
Here in Bhaktivedanta hospital many doctors always come and check Guru
Maharaja. In this regard Guru Maharaja also commented that in Hinduja
hospital he saw the doctors only few times in a day and the nurses were
around him quite often. But in Bhaktivedanta hospital the doctors are all
the time around him and he rarely sees the nurses. He was happy with many
doctors taking care of him nicely and the atmosphere here is spiritual.
Yesterday when Dr. Shiromani and another doctor was with Guru Maharaja, a
topic came about the hospital deities, Jagannath, Subhadra and Baladeva.
They everyday visit the patients and the patients also get the deities
prasadam. Guru Maharaja told them jokingly that the deities don’t come to
see him. Dr. Shiromani mataji said, “No Guru Maharaja, you were taking rest
at the time when They came to this floor and another time you were in the
physiotherapy department at the ground floor.”
At around 5 pm I saw the Jagannath, Subhadra and Baladeva deities at the 4th
floor where Guru Maharaja’s suite is situated. Dr. Shiromani
mataji was also present with the deities. I rushed to see if Guru Maharja
was awake and he was awake. Bhadra Balaram prabhu was nearby him. We
prepared to receive the deities. The deities arrived after a few minutes and
the devotees brought Them closer to Guru Maharaja. He prayed for a moment
and offered flowers to Them. He took one small piece of prasad from the
deities. He was happy to see Them in his room!
The facial therapist, Dr. Mahabahu prabhu came to begin his course for Guru
Maharaja. Guru Maharaja was made to sit at the edge of the bed and was given
facial therapy for half an hour. His face is getting better everyday, still
his speaking and facial expressions needs a lot of improvement. After the
theraphy he took some fruits. Ratnavali dd, Devakimayi dd and Madhuri Yamuna
dd came to read get well letters for Guru Maharaja. The devotees’ get well
letters enliven Guru Maharaja always. After that again he got facial therapy
for sometime and Bhadra Balaram prabhu fed him dinner. At around 9 pm the
eye specialist came and checked Guru Maharaja’s eyes. After that Guru
Maharaja was put to sleep.