Srila Gurudeva's Health Update - April 1, 2004

For the kind attention of all the devotees:

Please accept my dandavats pranams and receive heartly blessings from Srila Gurudeva. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga and all glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji.

 I am sure that most of you have already received the good news that Srila Gurudeva has been released from the hospital last night. Yesterday at 10.30 AM a detailed scan was conducted on Srila Gurudeva’s heart region. This is called an angiogram in medical terms. The doctors insert a special fluid in the arteries by which they can observe whether there is any blockage in the arteries that are directly providing blood and oxygen to the heart.  

After 45 minutes the doctors came and informed us that there is very positive news: there is no life threatening situation coming from the heart condition. There is no need to perform any further treatment because the arteries do not have any severe blockages. Although one of the 3 main arteries is almost completely blocked, the other two are working very well. That particular artery was already blocked since many years so this was not any new discovery. With two arteries functioning well the heart receives sufficient blood supply in order to do its important work.

 As you know in 2002 Srila Gurudeva had a heart attack and at that time one stent was placed in the main artery of the two that are functioning well. This was done in order to remove a severe blockage which was there at that particular time. The blockage was removed by this procedure and in yesterdays test it showed that the situation has remained exactly the same as it was in 2002 after the placement of the stent. The doctors and all of us became very happy to know this fact.

I hope that this little report is helping you to understand better what Srila Gurudeva’s heart condition is and that there is no immediate risk in this regard. With Krishna’s causeless mercy, proper medication and adjusting the daily schedule we expect and hope that it will remain stable.

The doctors have given the green light for resuming traveling within four or five days. Today we will sit and decide about our immediate schedule. Please know that Srila Gurudeva will definitely come to Italy and meet with all the wonderful devotees that will assemble there for the festival. 

On behalf of Srila Gurudeva I am thanking you for your heartfelt offerings, for your kind prayers, your favorable suggestions and your words of support.  

Aspiring for the service of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas
Brajanath das