“Guruji My Patient Needs You” – Narrated by Sanjeev Bhavnani

My name is Sanjeev. I am in the US and am a part of our Sthaans in Toronto and Chicago. I read with great interest the experiences of others and I humbly write a recent experience of my own. I am a cardiologist and am so only by the grace of our Guruji.

Guruji has given me my education and continually provides us with opportunities, protection and above He has given us meaning. Two weeks ago I was attending to several patients in the hospital , particularly those with heart disease. A very pleasant, middle aged, woman had been treated over the past few days and my team and I were now taking care of her. She is a simple person who has a wonderful daughter and takes care of her mother at home. She has been suffering with a weak heart. A weak heart leads to water retention on her body , weakness and fatigue. This also leads to a fast heart beat. She had been treated to the point where she was feeling better but still had a fast heart beat.

To bring her heart beat back to normal would require a shock to her chest – similar to what is seen on TV – to reset her heart beat to normal. This is a regular procedure and one that is simple and safe. Given that she was on the heavier side, to proceed she would need to be put to sleep and to not feel the effects of a shock. She elected to proceed and we made the arrangements. My parents have taught me to be thorough to make sure that which occurs, occurs only after the right process is completed.

She was brought to the room and before she could count down from 10 the anesthesiologist gave her a medication that within seconds put her to calmly to sleep. We analyzed her heart rhythm, told everyone to stand clear and applied a shock to her chest. In a matter of 2 seconds her heart rate was back to normal and all was looking well.

As the medication used to put her to sleep was wearing off, she began to slow her breathing. Her neck was large and her tongue fell to the back of her throat. The anesthesiologist tried to pull her tongue forward but was unsuccessful.

Her oxygen level from 100% started to drop. 90%, 80%, 60%, 50%, 40% and then her heart slowed to the point where it stopped beating. I felt that she had no pulse and began life support. We continued for about 1 minute while the anesthesiologist delivered oxygen. Slowly her heart rate and oxygen level returned; however, she was not waking up. When the brain is without oxygen it can be damaged. She was not breathing on her own but only with the help of anesthesiologist. Her heart was still normal but she was not responding or waking up.

These events do not usually occur. Two minutes went by, then Five. All the while I repeated to myself ‘this should not happen, this can not happen’. She should wake up. Why is she not waking up? Much like most people, central to my belief is that I will do no harm to others. In medicine we function as a team. There were 6 other members to the team and they relied on me for direction. I found myself at the end of her bed facing her feet.

I held both feet and concentrated on Guruji. I repeated to my self ‘Wahe Guru, We need you Guruji…..  Guruji we need you’.

Ten minutes went by and she was not responding. I grasped her feet tightly and silently yelled out “GURUJI WE NEED YOU”.

The anesthesiologist then yelled out in her ear “TAKE A BREATH!”. Everyone was looking at her and at that moment her chest raised taking in the air as though breathing for the first time. Over the next few minutes she started to breathe on her own and slowly started to wake up.

Her first words were ‘I’m coming’ to which I replied ‘I’m waiting’.

Thirty minutes later she was more awake and wondering where she was. She gradually remembered all of us and returned to normal. I proceeded to pick up her daughter and mother from the hospital lobby to bring them up stairs.

Her mother, in her 70s, looked to me as we stepped in the elevator and said “The Lord told me this morning that everything is going to be alright”. I replied “The Lord told me the very same thing!”.

Our patient returned home to her family. That afternoon I went to my office, closed the door, fell to my knees and cried.

We are all very fortunate to be part of a wonderful family. We are all linked in very special ways. Guruji our hearts, minds, body and soul are but gifts from You.

Oh Mahadev we are but a vessel for your actions. Help us to help people. Help us to learn. Guide our decisions in Your direction.

Wahe Guru!

– Sanjeev Bhavnani (USA)