Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja and Srila
Prabhupada!
By now you should be knowing that Guru Maharaj’s tracheostomy tube is no
more there and he has no more tube going inside his body!
Well, it happenned in a far out way. We know how Dr. Hegde had been delaying
this for almost more than a week and wanted to still keep it for few more
days for additional safety.
Today some time after Guru Maharaj took prasadam, we found some drops of
liquid on his shirt but couldn’t figure out what it was. It looked like
drops of water. Anyway we didn’t discuss much but I had some concern so I
kept specualting as to what it could be. After some time we moved Guru
Maharaj to a wheelchair for going to physiotherapy dept., soemthing that
Guru Maharaj is really into as he knows it’s going to help him walk, travel
and preach!
But as we were about to start. Dr. Shiromani mataji noted something strange.
She found Guru Maharaj’s tracheostomy tube hanging outside his neck, like a
locket! I guess she couldn’t believe it first and again looked at it
carefully. Yes! it was the tube that we all have been waiting to get
removed! She immediately alarmed us not to touch it as it could trigger
serious infection and called the nurse. Nurses came running and went back to
report to the concerned doctor.
One of the nurses came back and told us not to panic and that the doctor was
on the way.
Immediately after that Dr. Hegde walked in, smiling, almost laughing,
something that I never saw in him before this day! He was followed by a lady
doctor Dr. Mayuri, representing Dr. P. Ashok, and a few more nurses. I was
impressed to note how they were all there practically in a minute!
But the other far our thing was, Dr. Hegde didn’t know what had happened
before he was apparently told by the nurse when he arrived. He had just come
to 7th floor to check patients. Also Dr. Mayuri who was sent by Dr. P.
Ashok also ddin’t know that Dr. Hegde was going to be there! They all got
together there at the right time obviously by Lord Krishna’s arrangement
for his pure devotee.
I heard Dr. Ashok had jokingly said “looks like Swamiji pulled it out
himself..!” When someone made this comment to Guru Maharaj in front of Dr.
Hegde, Guru Maharaj very innocently noded his head and said “I didn’t do
it”! (I can still see that scene in front of my eyes!). Dr. Hegde was
astonished but couldn’t express much, I guess, as he had to maintain his
profile. He, still amused, and smile on his face, told the nurse to get him
gloves which she did. He told the nurse to cut the string / ribbon off and
once it was done applied some medicine to prevent infection. He then closed
it off with cotton and happily told Guru Maharaj, “you can have your shower
tomorrow”.
After doctors and nurses left I told Guru Maharaj how it was so special of
him and that Krishna had shown to Dr. Hegde (and team) that Guru Maharaj
cannot be kept as an ordinary patient. That although he wanted to keep the
tracheostomy tube for additional safety, when Guru Maharaj was very eager to
get rid of it, by Krishna’s arrangement the tube popped out on its own!
I think it was when Dr. Shiromani mataji told guru maharaj that there was no
more tube in his body, he lifted his two hands on his own (as much as he
could) and said “Hari Bol…!”.
Guru maharaj told me to take him to the bathroom to see how he can take
shower! He asked me if we had a gamcha for him. I took him on the
wheelchair to the bathroom and as we were discussing, Dr. Mayuri, who had
come on behalf of Dr. Ashok came back and was shocked to see Guru Maharaj
next to bathroom! She exclaimed “oh he cannot take shower now!” I told her
it wasn’t the case and she cooled down. She had come to say that Guru
Maharaj needed to be monitored at least for an hour and if any symptom of
difficulty in breathing, etc. appeared we should just remove the tape and
call the doctor.
When she said that today there should be no physiotherapy, Guru Maharaj told
her how it was important for him to go for physiotherapy. In the end she
agreed saying if he didn’t face any difficulty until 2pm she would let him
go! I lightly told her that Guru Maharaj had a very strong will power and
that he could easily manage to not show any symptom of difficulty for a few
hours to make sure he can go for physiotherapy! Any way, as he is, Guru
Maharaj was there in physiotherapy dept. during afternoon session! Actually
Dr. Mayuri was quite impressed by Guru Maharaj’s spirit and agreed that it
was Krishna’s arragement that the tube came out on its own. Actually by now,
all dotctors and hospital staff treating Guru Maharaj are happy with him.
I just came to know from Mahavaraha prabhu that Guru Maharaj had no
difficulty without the tracheostomy tube and had nice rest during
afternoon hours.
Now the main concern is his immune system as his WBC (white blood cells)
count is very low and doctors are anxiously waiting to see it increase as as
he is now, any small infection could cause a serious problem. He needs to be
carefully protected from infection and this is one reason he has been
shifted to a private room although on the other hand he has become
physically stronger by Lord Krishna’s mercy. Please keep praying. Thanks.
Hare Krishna
Your servant,
Bhadra Balaram Das