I have been very emotionally upset and drained for the last week so I have been unable to write anything. I would get ready to write and start losing control of my emotions. As it is I am tearing up right now. Radharani is passing and Bhumi needs an operation. Radhrani is one of my favorites, whenever she would see me she would come over and see what kind of treats or goodies I had for her. Bhumi has the same cancer in her eye as Jaya did. But that is another whole blog. Radharani is very inspiring to me on how she is preparing to pass. People could say, “Oh she is just a dumb animal,” but she is very aware of what is happening. She is very calm and meditative right now. Others would say you are doing too much, you are prolonging her pain and suffering, you should just put her down. (I have heard this from devotees when other cows have been passing. I have never heard it from my vet; he always tries to find ways to help me manage their pain. I always think that the devotee is not that realized at all and is missing the whole point. I always want to ask the devotees who say that to me, “How would you like to be treated when you are dying?” The time it takes for a soul to pass, no matter what body they are in, gives that soul a chance to burn off their bad karma and prepare for passing into another world. It is painful for us to watch them but how are we to understand the communication between them and God?
Gita, Shyama and Asha are holding a vigil for her right now and every night Gita sleeps right next to her. I have done everything I could to minimize her pain and make her as comfortable as possible.
Here is the correspondences Mom and I have been having with Radharani’s adopter, Vaninatha dasa.
December 5th:
Dear Vaninatha,
Hare Krishna!
I believe Lalshmi wrote you a note that Radharani's lump on her leg had gotten larger and her shoulder and leg seemed somewhat swollen. She was also having difficulty keeping up with the herd. At that point, we put her in the geriatric barn so she could easily get her food and water. We called the vet, but he only today answered our call and will come tomorrow afternoon. Since she was put in the geriatric barn, the swelling went down and she was getting around well, but just yesterday Lakshmi found her on her side unable to get up. She was lying on the side which has the leg with the lump. We thought that she could not use the leg well enough to push up. We managed to get her to sit up and she was doing fine. Then this morning Lakshmi again found Radharani down on her side unable to get up. She was shivering (it has been very cold here in the 20s and 30s). Lakshmi managed with help of two other devotees to get Radharani up and they covered her with blankets. Later in the day she was found down again. She was then braced by putting hay bales by her side to support her. A few hours ago, Lakshmi found Radharani with her head down and weak. She was still sitting up because she was braced by the hay bales.
We feel there must be something else going on in her body besides the lump on her leg which the vet had previously said was most likely a calcium deposit.. Lakshmi is feeling it is a possibility that she may leave her body in the night as she seemed very weak. We gave her Jamuna water and we have Prabhupada chanting on continuous play in the geriatric barn. Gita, Shyama, and Asha are in the barn with her.
We wanted you to know this latest development as we know you are a loving and concerned adopter. We will let you know how her health progresses.
Your servant,
Chayadevi
December 8, 2007 :
Dear Vaninatha Prabhu,
Hare Krishna!
The vet came and said Radharani had a stroke. He feels that at her age this may be just too much for her. A year ago the vet analyzed that she was anywhere from 23-25 years old in cow years. That would be 115+ in human years. Either she will have another stroke or she will get better and get up. He gave us some medicine to give her, but although we are giving it to her it does not seem like she is getter stronger. Gita has been watching over her along with Shyama and Asha. They are all sitting around her and a tape of Prabhupada singing is playing.
We will keep you updated.
Your servant,
Chayadevi
From: Richard M. Boyden \(Vaninatha dasa brahmachary\)
To: Lakshmi devi Dove
Cc: boydgood@hotmail.net
Sent: 12/8/2007 5:50:34 PM
Subject: Radharani............
Dear Lakshmi, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my respects. It sounds like Radharani, the cow, is getting old and will have a hard time making it through the winter. That is not a problem. She has given her life for helping Krishna's devotees spread the word about Srila Prabhupada's mission, so she knows fully well that she is on the way to Goloka Vrindavana. She is happy and we should all be happy also. The most we can do at this point is to keep her comfortable and content. That is what CFC does, apparently. Even if they feel there is no hope, they keep trying something so the cow feels loved and comfortable. I think that is important--that the cows always feel content.
My best wishes to all.
Yours sincerely,
Vaninatha dasa (Richard Boyden)
December 10:
At this point she is very weak and we don't really know how she manages to breath. She is completely lying down with her head on a pillow and for the last few days she is not eating or drinking. Srila Prabhupada is continuously singing on the CD which we can hear from our houses which are on both sides of the barn.
Gita, Shyama and Asha are holding a vigil for her right now and every night Gita sleeps right next to her. I have done everything I could to minimize her pain and make her as comfortable as possible.
Here is the correspondences Mom and I have been having with Radharani’s adopter, Vaninatha dasa.
December 5th:
Dear Vaninatha,
Hare Krishna!
I believe Lalshmi wrote you a note that Radharani's lump on her leg had gotten larger and her shoulder and leg seemed somewhat swollen. She was also having difficulty keeping up with the herd. At that point, we put her in the geriatric barn so she could easily get her food and water. We called the vet, but he only today answered our call and will come tomorrow afternoon. Since she was put in the geriatric barn, the swelling went down and she was getting around well, but just yesterday Lakshmi found her on her side unable to get up. She was lying on the side which has the leg with the lump. We thought that she could not use the leg well enough to push up. We managed to get her to sit up and she was doing fine. Then this morning Lakshmi again found Radharani down on her side unable to get up. She was shivering (it has been very cold here in the 20s and 30s). Lakshmi managed with help of two other devotees to get Radharani up and they covered her with blankets. Later in the day she was found down again. She was then braced by putting hay bales by her side to support her. A few hours ago, Lakshmi found Radharani with her head down and weak. She was still sitting up because she was braced by the hay bales.
We feel there must be something else going on in her body besides the lump on her leg which the vet had previously said was most likely a calcium deposit.. Lakshmi is feeling it is a possibility that she may leave her body in the night as she seemed very weak. We gave her Jamuna water and we have Prabhupada chanting on continuous play in the geriatric barn. Gita, Shyama, and Asha are in the barn with her.
We wanted you to know this latest development as we know you are a loving and concerned adopter. We will let you know how her health progresses.
Your servant,
Chayadevi
December 8, 2007 :
Dear Vaninatha Prabhu,
Hare Krishna!
The vet came and said Radharani had a stroke. He feels that at her age this may be just too much for her. A year ago the vet analyzed that she was anywhere from 23-25 years old in cow years. That would be 115+ in human years. Either she will have another stroke or she will get better and get up. He gave us some medicine to give her, but although we are giving it to her it does not seem like she is getter stronger. Gita has been watching over her along with Shyama and Asha. They are all sitting around her and a tape of Prabhupada singing is playing.
We will keep you updated.
Your servant,
Chayadevi
From: Richard M. Boyden \(Vaninatha dasa brahmachary\)
To: Lakshmi devi Dove
Cc: boydgood@hotmail.net
Sent: 12/8/2007 5:50:34 PM
Subject: Radharani............
Dear Lakshmi, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my respects. It sounds like Radharani, the cow, is getting old and will have a hard time making it through the winter. That is not a problem. She has given her life for helping Krishna's devotees spread the word about Srila Prabhupada's mission, so she knows fully well that she is on the way to Goloka Vrindavana. She is happy and we should all be happy also. The most we can do at this point is to keep her comfortable and content. That is what CFC does, apparently. Even if they feel there is no hope, they keep trying something so the cow feels loved and comfortable. I think that is important--that the cows always feel content.
My best wishes to all.
Yours sincerely,
Vaninatha dasa (Richard Boyden)
December 10:
At this point she is very weak and we don't really know how she manages to breath. She is completely lying down with her head on a pillow and for the last few days she is not eating or drinking. Srila Prabhupada is continuously singing on the CD which we can hear from our houses which are on both sides of the barn.
Submitted by Lakshmi Devi
0 comments:
Post a Comment