By Lalita Madhava Devi Dasi
Dear Worldwide Community of Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am writing to make you aware of the tragic situation with Baladeva dasa and his wife, Bhaktin Christina, that is unfolding here in the Greater Alachua community, and to appeal to you all for your help.
Bala (Peruvian Baladeva Torres) is a Mayapura gurukuli who is known throughout North America for his many years of faithfully assisting Rtadhvaja Swami with the annual “summer trip” – taking dozens of boys to Ratha-yatras all over the continent and performing the invaluable service of set-up and break-down of the Festival of India.
Recently, Bala’s wife Christina, age 23, who is approximately 5 months pregnant, was diagnosed, during routine prenatal care, to be in the advanced stages (Stage 4) of ovarian cancer. When given the choice between the chemotherapy and radiation that could possibly save her life, but would kill her unborn child, Christina decided against treatment. Thus she is existing in an extremely debilitated state, just trying to make it through the pregnancy.
Bala, meanwhile, is forced to continue working a full-time job in order to pay for their housing and other living expenses. Bala’s lifelong friend, Madhvacarya, is helping as much as possible with Christina’s care, but the situation is dire.
A monetary collection, organized by Kirtiraja dasa, has been taken up here in Alachua to cover their living expenses (the goal is at least $10,000.00 to provide for the next few months) so that Bala can stop working and spend what will likely be the last few months of Christina’s life caring for her and preparing for the birth.
But as relatively large as our community is, there are still only so many of us. I humbly and urgently appeal to you all to please contribute whatever you can to this effort.
Also, I beg any devotee who is knowledgeable in the process of international money transfer to please help me, as I have no experience in this area. I can be reached at 386.454.8278 or via email at lalitamadhava@juno.com.
For now, donations may be mailed to the temple. That address is ISKCON of Alachua, PO Box 819, Alachua, Fl 32615. Further information about bank transfers and other methods will be forthcoming.
Thanking you all for your kindness and your help, I remain
Your humble servant, Lalita Madhava d.d.
we should take the example of bhaktin christina as one of the utmost courage and compassion. at the risk of her own life, she wishes to try to make it through the pregnancy in order to save the life of her child. I am pained to hear of this extremely complex and painful situation and i appeal to all devotees that have some spare funds to please please help out this couple with their struggles.
for those of us that cannot help financially, we must pray regularly to the Lord for help and protection and those that live in the vicinity of Baladeva and Christina to please offer friendship and emotional care through this most difficult time.
we are all a family and as such it is our duty to support each other despite our status.
I have just received a letter from Kirtiraja Prabhu telling me that my description here does not even begin to describe the absolutely “frightful condition” (his words) Christina is in.
I beg the Vaisnavas to pray for Christina and her unborn child and to please send whatever contributions you can that will enable her husband to stay home and care for her at this critical time. Thank you.
Hare Krishna
Surely any funds sent should be clearly marked to whom they are going to, at least a letter enclosed or the envelope marked with a name. A bank account can be set up as trust fund, and funds can be transfered directly to that trust account using the routing number and account number.
Ys
Bhakta Piyush