In2-MeC

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
9 December 2004

Dear Vaisnavas
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada!

Vraja Lila prabhu may still send in an update but I'm going to share some of what is happening as she and Ekavira are preparing to leave Hawaii right now. We spoke on the phone yesterday and I took a few notes on the situation. Forgive any weakness of memory.

Gurudeva was still in the hospital yesterday. The foot has increased in size. Tests have been run on his foot checking for blood clots but they were negative. He was feeling weak and his hemoglobin was low. He's had two blood transfusions to try and restore some strength.

This past weekend, Gurudeva met with his doctor from Mexico and the doctor he was working with here in Hawaii. As VL mentioned in her last email the main suggestion was to aputate the foot. Gurudeva has agreed to the amputation.

When we spoke, the location of where the surgery would be done was still being decided. VL said Madhavacarya prabhu was helping make some arrangements in the DC area. We spoke again briefly last night and it appears this is where they are going. The surgery would also include a removal of the lymph nodes in the groin so they can be dissected.

Let's continue to chant, pray and come together to help Gurudeva and elevate our service to him and Krsna.

much love
Maharatha dasa
Honolulu, Hawaii

Dear Maharaja and devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to ISKCON Founder Acharya Srila Pabhupada

By now you have heard that I had to go back into the hospital. During my stay there, I received two blood transfusion, and a series of additional tests. The sonogram and catscans gave us information of what is directly going on with the cancer. The other tests were to find out why I am always extremely tired and having constant breathing problems. I seem to be always gasping for breath, even when I brush my teeth or shave. The foot is still swelling, actually I am unable to walk due to pain in the foot and the breathing problem. Of course the good thing is that the cancer that was in the liver when I arrived in Mexico has disappeared from doing the alternative treatments. The cancer that was suspected to be in the lungs was also negative from the test results. However, we are now back to the original problem--- heavy concentration of melanoma in the foot and lymphs in the groin. Our present plan is for me to get stronger,to build up my immune system in preparetion for amputation of the leg, although there is still a 50% possibility that the cancer can still spread. However if I am to stay in this body, then I will have the amputation close to the knee. Of course in these last two days a miracle can happen, at the same time I am seeing that some miracles have already happened. For example, the cancer did not spread to other parts of the body, and the fact that Srila Prabhupada and Krsna sent so many caring doctors and nurses that went out of their way to assist me. An even greater miracle is the large number of devotees around the world that have been praying for me and sending their love. I am so fortunate, I am constantly feeling the love from the vaisnava Community. I am sure I will still find a way to dance if the operation is successful, I will get a flamboyant prosthesis that will have mystical powers. (smile) My constant mantra now is : "I am blessed by the best and praying to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna that I pass all the tests". I do have a more conditional prayer that is posted in my bathrooms in Maryland and Gita Nagari. I would like to share this prayer with all of you. This prayer is in no way as simple as the prayer I offered to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna asking Them to let me experience whatever I need to experience to become a better servant of Theirs and the Vaisnavas.

Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada
With Love
BTSwami

P.S. A couple days ago I was still thinking that I would simply go to Mayapur and fast to make a quick transition from the body, but I realized this would be imposing my own will on Krsna's plan. With so much suffering from the body, it is easy to get excited with the opportunity to get out of the body.

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