The internet at the hotel was down these few days , & we have been missing you all. Feels nice to be together again.
First of all thanks to Kelly for his beautiful song " the wasted years"- brings back memories of many mixed emotions, a few good & many not so good. By now though ,we have learnt not to dwell in the past & at the same time never to shut the door on it ( not to forget where we came from).
One annonymous prayer says-" I asked God for all the things so that I can enjoy life, & God gave me life that I can enjoy life. I didn't get anything I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself I am the most blessed person".
In the last few days there have been two deaths in the family. Ambi's younger brother succumbed to septicemia & my younger brother's father inlaw to pneumonia. Very tragic incidents & heart breaking indeed; but somehow lives are still moving along as predestined & preplanned by HIM. Ambi is currently in India for a few days midst her dear grieving parents & all other relatives, in the process of comforting & supporting eachother.
Before Ambi left we had a hectic weekend with Jeff, Jyoti,Suraj, Ravi, their friend Torrey & my niece Seema from Boston, along with Vivek & my brother from India who were already here. Eating out in the famous Canadian Honker Restaurant & a movie on saturday. Ravi & Torrey will stay untill tuesday. My uncle & aunt from Kalamazoo will be here tues-friday. I think I am getting way more attention than I am used to!
The fourth week of therapy is about to start in afew hours. Eating has become slightly more difficult, therefore trying to concentrate more on supplements to avoid too much wt. loss. Everything else is coming along pretty good.
The hour is getting kind of late enough to signoff now. Will retire after some simple prayers. Ofcourse those who have read my brother Babi's comments can't the miss the fact how well he has dressed up those simple words into beautiful phrases with a gentle stroke- makes me say WOW! Thanks to you again.
Lots of love to all of you- good night to USA & good day to India & Bangkok.
12 comments:
Sachi, Ambi and family - So sorry to hear about the recent tragedies in your family, I will pray for all of you. We are all well here, staying busy with the usual. Night shift is going fine. I pray that your week goes well Sachi and that your families are able to cope and lean on one another and God during this trying time. "He himself is our peace" Ephesians 2:14. God Bless. Janelle
Dear Mahapatra family,
I have read all of your entries and comments and find it very difficult to write my simple words after reading your family's elegant comments. But after reading your entry last night about dining at the Canadien Honker restaurant I had to laugh, because I have spent many of meals at that restaurant back in my days as a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital (Mayo Clinic). You have to try the restaurant down the road from the Honker Restaurant (the name has slipped my mind) they have the best and unlimited breadsticks there, it is more of a lunch time restaurant. The Mayo Clinic is a wonderful place to be when their endless services are needed. They make one feel like they are the only patient. I do miss it there. I hope you are finding your way around Rochester as it can be confusing at first. It is a wonderful town.
We are all praying for you back in Lincoln, you wouldn't believe the amount of questions that we get from all of the facilities regarding your health, you truly have touched many lives.
God Bless your family and all of the recent tragedies that you have endured. It always seems that when it rains it pours, unfortunately.
Take care,
Rebekah (with an "h" :)
Dearest Sati Mamu,
Pranam,
Our heartfelt and deepest condolences to both Ambi Main and you on the sudden and untimely demise of Kukoo Bhaiya..I really don't know what to say except
that we can all find solace in the fact that he is now free from his bodily pain and suffering and in God's home now under his care and protection..May the Lord give you and the entire Bedi family the strength and courage to deal and cope with their loss and grief..We both pray for the family who are left behind and for Kukoo Bhaiya's soul to rest in peace!
The annonymous prayer that you have shared in your mail is so very apt and beautiful..infact I read it last night in Mamma's yearly Souvenir of "Utkalini" (a leading organisation of Oriya women in Delhi) as this prayer was Mamma's this year's contribution to the Souvenir..thought would share the full prayer with you-
The following words have come to be known as the prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier.They are perhaps the most satisfactory answer to the problem of unanswered prayer.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn to obey.
I asked for health that I might do great things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for;
But everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself,my unspoken prayers were answered;
I am,among all men,most richly blessed.
We were glad to know that despite the tragic incidents in the family you and the kids,Seema,Vivek and Suka Mamu had a good weekend eating out in the famous Canadian Honker Restaurant & watching a movie together on Saturday..We are relived and glad to know that Ravi & Torrey would be there with you till Tuesday and then you will have Bijoy Aja and Janet Aai with you from Tues-Friday..So enjoy all the attention while you are getting it! :)
We both hope and pray that your fourth week of treatment without Ambi Main being their by your side goes well,smoothly and uneventfully without much of side effects..U be strong and take good care of yourself while she is away.
Keep up your ever so positive thought process and faith in The Lord.
Our thoughts and prayers are always with you and the entire Mahapatra & Bedi family.
Love always,
Leema & Achintya.
Dear Bada dada,
How are khudi and everybody at Delhi doing? Spoke to Babli didi and she said that Aunty was taking it the hardest. And I guess that is but natural. Ever since I heard of the news, although I felt really bad for Rani Aunty & the kids and Babli didi & Khudi, I found it the hardest to even think of what Uncle & Aunty must be going through. I doubt that there is anything else more painful than the loss of a child. It is almost against Nature for a child to pass away before his/her parents. It is just too excruciating a pain - one that I have no idea how parents could possibly deal with. I can't help my tears every time I think of them. All I can do is pray for God to give them the strength they need right now.
Love and prayers,
Pinky
Hello Sachi!
Please give Ambi our best, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of you and Ambi's family.
Good Luck this week...Try to keep up your strength and appetite. And most of all, enjoy, have fun with your family & relatives!
~Robin MacKnight
Pranams bhaiya,
Well time flies. "And this too shall Pass".
I Feel really good talking to you and the courage with which you are facing everything . You remind me of Christopher Reeves rite "Superman" after his accident ,how he faced all odds with grit and courage.And when asked, 'How he coped up with hard days?His reply ,was that he would seek out a person who needs his help and in this way divert his mind from himself.
Your calls to all of us is in the same lines.
I wold like to add this about prayer here,"
Prayer is not asking for what you want, but to be changed in ways you can not imagine"-Kathleen Norris.
Now one batch of family visited you , now in a day Mamu will be there. And I am sure Ravi is taking good care of you.
Take care .Pranaams once more Vicki.
as promised i will start with, "yoooooooooooooo"
now - just to sort things out here, jeff bhai and i are not so sure about this "all famous canadian honkers." it was built up for us to the point that we thought we were going to walk into a castle with flying horses and singing/dancing waiters and waitresses (preferably the latter... for us anyway) and be served meals on fajita-style sizzling platters with the chef discussing each course as it was being cooking...
altho they did have really good food, excellent service, delicious/decadent dessert(s), and well-selected live music... i'm just saying :P
ok fine - i really enjoyed the it and i'd still recommend it to all. just make sure you're not expecting what we were the way it was hyped :)
bododa - a quick thing i wanted to mention; keep the supplements and the calorie intake up the way you are and i think you'll be safely distanced from even the mention of a feeding tube. i have complete faith in your mental and physical strength to overcome this, as do we all. BUT should you choose to take the proverbial breather from the constant irritation of trying to swallow food, as mom said "this too (the feeding tube) shall pass" ... whatever is best for your health, you as a doc know. we're all 110% behind you no matter how you choose to eat. granted, we'll stay away from canadian honkers and red lobsters, but as soon as that tube is removed, we shall return with full force.
my love and best wishes to bodoma as well. i hope she's keeping in good health. as soon as she lands i'll drop her a line. no friends on the return flight, but i'm glad she had the company on the way to :)
... so i'm guessing that the bachelor pad (you, ravi, torrey) has exhausted all the movies on-demand? the mist... 30 days of night... rendition... etc..?
love and pranams,
vivek
Dear Sachi bahi & Ambiji,
Namaskar !!!
Ambiji, we are so sorry to hear about your brother. It’s really heart breaking . We pray God to give you mental and physical strength to cope with this situation.
Sachi bhai, we are glad to know that your treatment is going smoothly. With Almighty’s grace, the two weeks will be over soon without much problem.
Our prayers are with you.
Love & Respect
Asit & Runu
Sachi,
You must be feeling much younger as you had company of Ravi and his friend for last couple of days. Well next couple of days you will be with your uncle and aunt and will have quality time talking about past, present and future. I am sure you are real close to your uncle. All of us are, I was always very close to all my mamaji's, especially Ambi's dad. We all lived in Simla when we were kids. My sister, Ambi, Kuku and myself used to play together. Kuku's passing away has been real painful to all of us but you are right, it is not in our control, HE controls everything. Sorry to hear about your brother's father-in-law.
Ambi should be back on Thursday and I am sure you are looking forward to your visit to Lincoln this weekend. We are anxiously waiting for our visit to Rochester to see you and all the good things/places you have been describing in your blog and in our telecons.
Avtar-Gurjeet
This is my favorite prayer. You may have seen it before:
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes of his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, He looked back at the footprints in the sand. He
noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also
noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set
of footprints; I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During
your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I
carried you."
It is a prayer that continues to rejunivate my hope whenever I've been at my lowest.
Dearest Sanabhai,
Pranam.It was a great pleasure going through your mail after 4-5days and getting to know what all are happening there..We are really missing it..so u had a hectic weekend with you dear family members-hosting all the meals..taking everybody to the movies etc.(who is the patient?)In between chemo & radiations you can manage all this- really incredible! but we are happy for you- you really know how to live life to the fullest- May God bless you & give you more strength & happiness- "Love the busy life.It is a joy-filled life.Take your fill of joy in the spring.Live outdoors whenever possible.Sun and air are nature's great healing forces.That inward joy changes poisoned blood into a pure, healthy, life-giving flow.But never forget that the real healing of the spirit comes from within,from the close,loving contact of your spirit with God's spirit.Keep in close communion with God's spirit day by day"..Feb 23-A.A meditation for the day.
But Sanabhai we think with decreasing appetite and lower intake of food you may like to reduce your outings and take more rest trying to preserve your energy so that you may not feel weak- Are we doctoring a doctor? ,no-just an affectionate sisterly, well meaning suggestion.Hope you will seriously consider it.
It was nice meeting Nuabou,talking to her & comforting her.She seems really disturbed & sad.We are praying to God to give her fortitude and courage to bear the irreperable loss of her dearest brother.It is really very hard and she has to go through much hardship at one time but then as Bedi Uncle said-"Life is full of struggles and this will surely pass and everything will be alright again".
Hope your chemo's and radiations are going well.We are praying to God for lesser side effects and increasing appetite.
Wish you Gods speed in recovery.
Lots of love and Best wishes,
Nandini and Swarup.
hi didi
we all r prayng to god
everythn is goin to be alright
thn u all cum to india
okay
Post a Comment