We are slowly settling down to a routine. After the relatively fast pace of treatment days we have now entered the waiting phase. The house is quiet, the kids are busy with their schedules and Sachi and I spend our time together, slowly picking up our life where we left off. Most of the day revolves around Sachi's medicines and tube feeds (six times a day). He walks around with a blanket, not being able to shrug off the cold. He has lost a lot of weight (35 lbs.) and has not yet started the trend up. The doctor says it will be two more weeks and then the recovery will speed up. For now Sachi walks (paces) inside the house as exercise. I cook a little bit and am trying to go through the piles of mail collected in the past two months. But mostly we sleep and watch TV.
Minnesota (where Mayo clinic is) has been pounded by snow storms in the past week and has had white out conditions as far as visibility is concerned. Nebraska had some beautiful days but is now wet and cold again. The kids had taken out their shorts but are back in their sweatshirts. I have planted a few pots with Pansies and they are doing fine in the cold. It feels good to look out and see these happy flowers waving back at you. The grass in the yard took advantage of the few warm days and has turned green but rest of the world is still dormant, like us. We are all waiting for the spring. The calander declared it spring on March 21st. but nature has its own plan.
Tomorrow Jyoti and Jeff will come over for 2-3 days and we will celebrate Baisakhi (April 13) together. Baisakhi is New Year on the Hindu calender and also celebrated by sikhs as birth of Sikhism. It is therefore doubly important in our home. We will take out our orange or yellow colored clothes, read passages from our respective holy books and say thanks for wonderful harvest (in Punjab it is wheat harvest time). Then we will have dinner together. My parents will not celebrate this year in memory of my brother. They are in mourning and will skip all celebrations for a year. My heart is at home with them during this time.
Thankyou to all of you who read this blog and keep it relevant. It is our connection to the unasked support we do not know how to ask for. At times it has been a life saver; a warm blanket always. With lots of love and regards . . . . . . . Ambi.
'Happy Baisakhi to all'
9 comments:
Dear Sati Bhai and Nuabou,
Wish you All a Happy Baisakhi.
Nature may "spring" its own surprise of snow and sunlight, yet the dual occasion (of Baisakhi and Home-coming) must be celebrated with full pomp and gaiety. We join you and your dear ones with full spirits. Wish you all a yearfull harvest of happiness and prosperity.
Nuabou,
Our heart goes out to your grief-stricken parents for a festive occasion punctuated by such a huge loss. Time heals everything and we wish them strength and support on their path to recovery.
With warm regards,
Mama, Ashok and Ayush
ueDearest Sanabhai&Nuabou,
PRANAM-HAPPY BAISAKHI TO YOU ALL.Rang de Basanti Chola.
Sanabhai,your HOMECOMING,though silent & sleepy was Most Welcome-not only to your eager and awaiting family at Lincoln but to all of us here also-atleast six weeks of invasive treatment and pain is finally over.Now is the time for peace,tranquilty
and lots and lots of rest for our dear Sachidananda ji(Nuabou,you compared him with Swamiji-hence this name) in Retreat-silently praying and slowly but steadily trying to come back to normalcy and good health.He has surrendered himself completely to GOD`S WILL and it is apparent that God has taken charge of His blessed child and his family- so everything shall be alright.
Nuabou dear-don`t worry-"IF WINTER COMES CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND".Severe winter had come and it made you shiver in more ways than one-but now it is gone-we are all waiting for the beauties of Spring to come and it will come though a little late and with it wiil bring all happiness,wellbeing and colourful flowers in your garden.By then, Sanbhai will also be fit,cheerful and blooming like your lovely Pansies in the pot.So-Nuabou! cheer up-happy & busy days are coming ahead-this to us-is a dull phase and it will pass of quickly.
We are sure with your tender,loving and timely care backed up by our collective prayer,Sanabhai`s health will improve quickly.Your days now are filled with Sanabhai`s feeds,medicines and so many other necessary things.(At times we feel like comparing you with the`Lady with a Lamp~)You are doing so much -may God bless you and be with both of you Always.How are Jyoti,Jeff,Suraj &Ravi doing?We are sure they are praying for the speedy recovery of their dear Baba.
With lots of love and good wishes to you all,
Nandini&Swarup
Dearest Ambi Main,
Pranam..Wish you, Sati Mamu and the kids a very Happy Baisakhi..Hope you all had a great Baisakhi dinner together with Jyoti and Jeff..Hope Sati Mamu joined in the celebrations too.
Main..We can understand that suddenly after the fast pace of treatment days it must be a bit hard for you to settle down to a slow paced waiting phase..but like those days these will also pass away soon and with the onset of Spring..Sati Mamu will also spring back to his colourful spirited element and renewed health..Hope this new week starting today brings in happier and healthier days ahead..once Sati Mamu's recovery speeds up and he starts to gain his lost weight and strength..then there is no stopping him..he will then again keep you busy 24/7..So rest now as much as you can and watch all the tv you can as soon you will be busy in the kitchen cooking all your delicacies and goodies for Sati Mamu and the kids..so cheer up and enjoy this phase too..smile back at the beautiful happy faces of the Pansies..as soon your garden will be full of them and other spring flowers..and the grass will also soon be all green covering the dormant parts too and so will your lives..be full of good health, cheer, smiles and happiness.
Hope this New Year brings you,Sati Mamu and the kids good health, happiness and peace of mind and spirit.
Pranam & Prayers,
Love always,
Leema & Achintya.
Namasthe Ambi Aunty & Sachi Uncle,
We were really surprised to know about uncle! What a dynamic man he is and we pray God that he gets back to his good health quickly!
we were thinking of last year Baisakhi when we were at your home and how warm we felt being with a great couple like you both!
Being far away from India and from our parents we can never forget the love and affection that we could get from you both.
Wish you and your family a very Happy Baisakhi!
We hope this new year brings you good health and happiness!
We miss you a lot!!!
Your admirers
KinneraShravan
Happy Monday. Yesterday was another funfilled day of VB. Abbie and I got home from Grand Island at 10:30 last nite, they did well and had fun. I am working the next 2 nites. I stopped at NHI today and alot of people were asking about you, you have so many people who are thinking of you and praying for you, another example of what a great person you have been to others. I haven't called because I don't want to interrupt your rest which is most important now. We leave Friday for Indianapolis, the final tournament of the season and come back early Monday (Abbie, I and her friend), should be an experience (Ha). Anyway, my phone is on if you feel like talking, otherwise, as always, in my thoughts and prayers daily. Janelle
Happy Baisakhi to all
'Happy Baisakhi to you too!'
We are so glad you are home!
It has been very exciting at our house -- Teagan made Freshman Cheerleader for East High, and Trey's soccer team took 1st place in the KC Champion Cup last weekend!
We are hoping this happiness spreads your way!
Let us know when we can come visit.
~Chris, Robin, Teagan, Trey
Pranam to Sanabhai and Nuabou,
whatever a king does, be it with pomp and grandeur or be it quiet and subdued, it is always ROYAL.Your homecoming has brought us more happiness and joy than you will ever know. I could not be more proud if you had conquered the world; because what you have bourn in these 6 weeks with grace and serenity I cannot imagine another human being that can match it . We never could know your pain, your fatigue or your suffering from talking to you .It was from others that we could only guess. By talking among ourselves and with Nuabou or Badabhai did we get an idea of your condition.
WEAKNESS is just a word. It is a word that none of us had ever associated with you in our entire life. Yet today God has made it almost synonymous with my brother. Such weight loss I had not imagined even at the end of your treatment. God has put everything in His script. If He has shown us the bottom of your plight with infection, dehydration, low blood count and what not; then I suspect He has the peak of joy and fulfillment in the near future with the best of health , spirit, strength and prosperity .I agree with Swarup bhai, if winter is here spring cannot be far away. In addition however long, cold and clammy the winter was, that much more will the spring be colourful, festive and joyous in more ways than one.
Whatever happens in God’s world it is always for the best .This period of suffering is best spent in sleep and slumber. Before you can count the days it will be gone. Sanabhai, you are fighting the biggest and bitterest of enemies the human race has ever known. So please be patient because you also have the greatest ALLAY that man has ever discovered. God is listening to all our prayers. His mercy is all encompassing. His Will, will always triumph.
You are in your home, your fortress with all your own and very own. I wish we were close enough to be able to visit you at least once in a while. What can we do but watch and weep from thousands of miles away. But our voices, our longings and our love will reach you and God will find a way to unite us.
Dear brother mine, we are waiting eagerly to see you, to touch you and to embrace you when you come to us fully recovered, fully cured and made completely whole. My Tarzan cannot be any less than what he was when I last saw him in Bombay.
Till then I remain, forever your loving brother.
Our pranam to you both and love for the children.
Sudha and Subu.
Sachi,
Home makes a big difference. You will recover, gain weight fast at home. With Ambi and kids taking good care of you and seeing your friends everyday is definitely going to add to speed of recovery.
Baisakhi is start of new year in Punjab. This new year is likely to bring better days for all of you.
Everyone in New Jersey and Boston send you their best wishes, especially your namesakes!
Avtar-Gurjeet
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