When I went inside the ICU, Guru Maharaja said, “I walked 8 steps today.” I
replied, “Wow!! That’s a very good start. Today is Ekadasi and also Gita
Jayanthi. Very auspicious beginning.” Guru Maharaja continued, “It was
exhausting. I am hungry now.” I quickly arranged for him to have his lunch.
When Guru Maharaja was about to finish his lunch he said, “You filled me
up.” I told him, “You need to eat well so you get more strength to walk 16
steps.”

At 4.10pm Guru Maharaja was taken to the physiotherapy department again for
the second session of walking exercise. When we were about to leave the ICU
ward, Guru Maharaja asked, “Where is my mask?” Neither myself nor the nurse
gave him the face mask. The nurse quickly brought a new face mask for Guru
Maharaja. I felt bad about it and quickly wrote it down in my small pocket
book so that I will not repeat the same mistake.

He walked 8 steps in the morning, now they made him to walk 15 steps in
three different sessions. After the physiotherapy, Guru Maharaja was taken
to opthamalogist for his eye check up followed by audiology. Since morning
Guru Maharaja was fully occupied with physiotherapy sessions and he was seen
very tired. At around 5.30pm he was brought back to the ICU and made to take
rest.

At 6.30am when I went into the ICU, Bhadra balaram Prabhu was arranging all
the deities pictures behind Guru Maharaja’s bed. Then he told me to hold the
Their Lordships Sri Radha Madhava picture infront of Guru Maharaja. Guru
Maharaja told us to start the mangala arati prayers. We did Guru Maharaja
full mangala arati program together.

Soon after the morning program he had his fruit. Then he told me he wanted
to take rest till 9.30am, have his breakfast and go for physiotherapy. Today
at 10.30am Guru Maharaja had an appointment to go to physiotherapy
department. All this while the therapy was done in the ICU but today is the
first day Guru Maharaja will be taken to the physiotherapy department. The
therapist suppose to make him to stand. So Guru Maharaja was eager to be
there on time.

When I went in again into the ICU at 9.30am Guru Maharaja was still sleeping
soundly. I tried many times to wake him up but I failed. I thought to let
him sleep but at the same time I did not want him to be late for the
physiotherapy department. As we know he is very eager to go there and try to
stand so I woke him up anyway. While having breakfast Guru Maharaja told
Dr.Shiromani to check whether the appointment to go to physiotherapy
department is still as per schedule. Unfortunately due to some unexpected
events the appointment was delayed to 2pm.

Meanwhile we did facial therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy for Guru
Maharaja inside the ICU itself. After we finished doing all these therapies,
we made him to sit on the edge of his bed with his legs dangling down and
with both of his hands he was holding the table in front of him. This
exercise is done mainly to help strengthen Guru Maharaja’s back. With so
much effort Guru Maharaja managed to sit and hold the table without any
support for 15 minutes.

At 1.15pm we fed lunch to Guru Maharaja. At 2.15pm we took Guru Maharaja to
the physiotheraphy department by wheelchair. This physiotherapy department
is located in another building across the road which is connected with a
bridge. Since Guru Maharaja’s immune system is down and we have to take Guru
Maharaja out of the ICU area we put a face mask for Guru Maharaja.

On this first day session of physiotherapy Guru Maharaja was made to stand,
holding on to a set of parallel bars on either side of him. He stood for
about 20 minutes in two sessions with the support of four therapists. At one
point Guru Maharaja asked Mr.Nirmal Narayan (one of the therapist),”I want
to walk, baby step!” Mr.Nirmal Narayan said,”Step by step swamiji. First you
have to stand steady. Then we go for baby step.” This scene appeared to be
like how a mother teaches her baby to walk. Then Guru Maharaja was taken to
another corner and was given a ball to him to pass from one hand to another
hand followed by picking up and dropping small metal bars.

At 4pm Guru Maharaja was brought back to the ICU. One of the therapist
followed us to the ICU and continued to give few other exercises for Guru
Maharaja. Guru Maharaja was seen very exhausted and we made him to take
rest. After having some buttermilk as a refreshment he took one and half
hour rest.

JPS Servants

This evening we reached the hospital at 8pm. It took exactly two hours to
reach the hospital. There was a big gathering of people close to the area
where the hospital is located. Roads leading to Hinduja Hospital were
closed. Roads, streets, buses and trucks were filled up with people. Today
people were celebrating the death anniversary of B.R.Ambedkar, who is also
known as “Father of Indian Constitution”

When I went inside the ICU Bhadra Balaram Prabhu was doing physiotheraphy
for Guru Maharaja. I noticed the nasogastric feeding tube was removed from
Guru Maharaja’s nose. The clarity of his speech has improved further. We
started feeding the dinner at 8.35pm. While we were feeding dinner Guru
Maharaja was squeezing his fingers of his right hand. Then he said, “My
right hand is weak….” I explained, “Guru Maharaja, in the beginning there
was not a slight movement on your right hand but now you are able to lift
the hand upto your chest! You are progressing nicely. After few more days of
exercise you will be able to lift high enough to call out Gaurangaaaaa!!!”
As soon as I said this, Guru Maharaja tried his best lifting his right hand
while calling out “Gauranga!!!” He managed to lift it upto his ear then
dropped it immediately.

Guru Maharaja is very alert about his surroundings too. Whenever the
machines at the side of his bed beeps he would immediately ask us to check
on them. Each time when the hospital staff or doctors walk into his room he
will ask them questions of what they are doing and what are they talking.
His memory is still very sharp. He remembers all the doctors names who is
attending him.

At 10.15pm we did the face and speech theraphy for Guru Maharaja. Before
Guru Maharaja went to sleep Madhavakanta Prabhu brought in the pictures of
Their Lordships Sri Radha Rasabihari and Hanuman Ji. Guru Maharaja told him
to touch the pictures on his forehead and requested him to put Hanuman
picture within his sight.

Next day morning at 6am after applying tilaka on his forehead we started the
morning program with mangala arati song. Guru Maharaja was trying to sing
along with us until we finished the whole program. We noticed he was moving
his lips accordingly from the beginning to the end of all songs.

Though this report appears to be very positive, please remember that Guru
Maharaja’s bodily immune system is very low and chances for infections are
high. Therefore we have to keep praying intensely until Guru Maharaja
recovers completely.