19-Nov-08, from Maha Varaha Prabhu

I was on afternoon shift today. Reached the hospital at 2.40pm. Dr.Shiromani
and Dr.Sagar were there from the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. I was told that at
2.30pm GM’s ventilator was completely swithced off and he is breathing on
his own.

At 3.30pm Braja Hari Prabhu and Narahari Prabhu came to visit GM. Narahari
prabhu was inside the ICCU for 10 minutes. As he walked out of ICCU he asked
me to go in quickly. As i approached GM’s bed i saw 2 nurses and Braja
Hari Prabhu trying to communicate with GM. He was sweating and breathing
little heavily without the support of ventilator. Braja Hari Prabhu told me
that GM is trying to say something. I quickly held the alphabetical board
in front of him and asked him to lift his thumb if i hit the right letter.
GM nodded his head. Braja Hari Prabhu was writing it down. Within a short
time we managed to get the first two words and the first letter of the third
word from GM. ‘ASK DOCTOR I….’

The nurse adviced me to stop for a while and continue later as GM was
getting too tired and it might interrupt his breathing process. I told GM to
relax and we would be continuing the communication later. He nodded in
agreement. We walked out of the ICCU.

While i was pondering over those two words, Braja Hari Prabhu showed the
paper to the devotees. ‘ASK DOCTOR I…..’ Dr.Shiromani said that before the
ventilator was switched off GM asked for some prasadam. After 2 minutes of
discussion we figured out that GM was trying to say, “ASK DOCTOR IF i CAN
EAT WHEN THE VENTILATOR IS SWITCHED OFF?”

At around 5pm a nurse told me to feed GM. After 2 hours of breathing without
the support of ventilator he seemed to be tired but he was breathing
steadily. I asked GM if he would like to eat? GM kept waving his left palm.
I asked him, “Are you trying to say if the doctor allowed you to eat without
ventilator?” GM nodded yes. This shows he is on high level of alertness. I
told him that the doctor and the nurses have allowed him to eat. We had
blended kitcheri from the morning and hot upma.

First I started with kitcheri. He had two spoons of it and then showed a
sign asking for the next item. Then upma was fed. I had informed GM that the
upma preparation contained soft diced cauliflower and carrots and he should
chew properly before swallowing them. He did exactly what i said. At one
point he started to turn his head left and right. I asked him is he alright?
He said, “no.” Asked him again whether he is having difficulties in
swallowing the vegetables. He nodded yes. I told GM to spit out all the
vegetables in the mouth. We used another spoon to take out the remaining
vegetables from the deep side of the mouth. In total he had about 15-18
spoons of upma. We gave him some water to drink. After that he rested
peacefully.

In the evening around quarter to seven pm, HG Nitai Prasada prabhu paid his
visit to GM. GM was still breathing without the ventilator and resting, when
we left the hospital at 7.30pm.

JPS Servants