*Recent update – 11.15 PM Orlando time*
Maharaj is on ventilator. His oxygen level is now 96%. Temperature is normal.
The current hospital is shifting Maharaj to the hospital of excellence, which is specially equipped for COVID treatment.
Right now Maharaj is in transit and will be relocated in 15-20 mins.
Devotees with Maharaj are trying to serve him with the best possible means and the best way all devotees can help them is by praying to Krishna and not calling or texting. If you have any suggestions you can send to office@bhakticharuswami.com
Please pray and chant for Maharaj’s recovery.
——–
Dear devotees, I’m writing to inform you of HH Bhakti Charu Swami’s current condition.
Yesterday HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj had a temperature of 104°F, so he was taken in an ambulance from DeLand farm to the hospital and was admitted into the Adventist hospital in DeLand. After 4 hours they discharged him. He decided to come to the preaching center near our house. My husband moved there to take care of him together with Shyama Murari prabhu and Anish prabhu.
Maharaj’s temperature was up again to 104°f in the evening. He was administered 2 tablets of Tylanol and was given tepid sponging to bring his temperature down. Maharaj had no appetite and was feeling very uncomfortable.
After 3 hours he took another fever reducing medicine and by 10pm his temperature was down 97.5°F. He slept for the first time in days and my husband woke him up at 3am to give him medicine, some light potato soup, and some liquids. His temperature remained at 97.5°F. At 6:45am he was chanting and sitting in a chair when my husband went in the room. He said he felt fine and didn’t want to take medication because it’s not good for the liver. My husband pressed him to take it but he refused. He broke his ekadasi fast with a small piece of toast and avocado but his appetite was not there. Maharaj continued to chant most of that morning.
At 11am he called my husband and said his temperature was high again, at 104°F. His pulse oxygen level was 79%-90%. When my husband saw that it was so low he suggested Maharaj go back to the hospital. Maharaj agreed.
We called the hospital in advance and they informed us that he tested positive for covid-19 because they had tested him five days ago. We then immediately rushed him to advent health hospital in Altamonte Springs. The doctors found out that he is in grave condition and wanted to immediately ventilate him.
Maharaj had previously said that he didn’t want to be put onto a ventilator because he didn’t want to be unconscious. At 8pm the doctors called my husband and said Maharaj had named him as his health surrogate, they also said that if Maharaj is unable to make a decision they’ll call my husband to make the decision of whether to put him on the ventilator or not.
My husband called Maharaj’s doctor and Sesa prabhu, the local GBC, was connected to the call. My husband told them that this responsibility should not be on him and that the GBC should make the decision. Sesha said he will call HH Ramai Swami, the executive chairman of the GBC and get back to my husband. 20mins later Sesa prabhu and Maharaj’s doctor called Guru Gauranga and informed him that in the event that Maharaj is unable to make the decision, they decided that he should be ventilated because the doctor said Maharaj will pass away if he isn’t put onto the ventilator. At 9:09pm Maharaj called my husband and told him he was feeling very uncomfortable, very stressed, and was finding it very difficult to breath.
My husband mentioned to Maharaj that it was the concensus of the devotees that he should take the ventilator. They spoke for 10mins and Maharaj said he would leave his life in the hands of the devotees and do what they wanted. The call ended at 9:23. Maharaj called at 9:29 and informed him that he told the doctor he will accept the ventilator and he also asked my husband to thank the devotees for their prayers and keep in touch with the doctor while he is unconscious.
During the last week that maharaj was so sick, he had been continously speaking of how to spread Krsna consciousness vigorously in Orlando and had not cared much about his own health but rather about how much still has to be done to fulfill Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya’s mission. Not a moment of his time while he was sick was lost, but rather he kept working, up until today, even though his health was deteriorating rapidly. We are all praying to Krsna that he comes back to us healthy, quickly. Please also pray for his rapid recovery.
Your servant,
Sucitra Devi Dasi