My Father always stands by me

Nabanita Duggal, June 2024
My journey with Guruji began in October 2018, when my husband was diagnosed with decompensated liver cirrhosis. That is, his liver had nearly stopped functioning. Water had accumulated in his stomach and his bilirubin level was extremely high. We went twice to a hospital for tapping his water out, which was agonising. Doctors were clear that he wouldn't survive without a liver transplant; the waiting period was up to three months. But if he caught an infection, he could lose his life any time.

Suhanni, my 7-year-old daughter, was miserable and she talked with her best friend Rishita about it in school. That very day I received a call from Rishita's mother, Shivani, who was a devotee of Guruji. She requested me to visit Bade Mandir immediately. I had attended Guruji's satsang two years earlier, but had failed to find faith in him.

Faced with a life-threatening situation, I hastened to take my husband to the Mandir at the first opportunity, which was during Dusshera. However, we couldn't go on the planned day–but we got jal prasad via Shivani. Medical tests undertaken after prasad showed my husband's bilirubin had come down from 9.8% to 7.6%. With Guruji's guidance, we went to AIIMS, where my husband received better treatment.

Guruji's endless blessings had started flowing in our lives. We visited Guruji for the first time on the next day of Dusshera. We later even got a copper lota blessed for my husband. From that moment, my husband's health improved, and water stopped accumulating in his tummy. Doctors were surprised.

In a month, my husband was looking better and we thought of hosting a satsang at our home on January 13th, on the occasion of his birthday. While preparing for the satsang, I was getting Guruji's fragrance everywhere. In fact He even showed me visions of the upcoming satsang and associated arrangements.

Finally, the day arrived for us to welcome Guruji in our house. During the satsang my husband noticed that he could see an Aum, a trishul and Shivji's damroo on his hands (in the form a blood clot). Three blessings! The figures could be seen for more than 24 hours. There was just no looking back after that. My husband's reports stabilized enough for doctors to pronounce that he would not need a liver transplant.

Guruji has worked his blessings in such a way that a year after his diagnosis, my husband has got back his health, has more hair on his head and looks not only as fair as before but five years younger than his age. No one can say that he is a patient with liver damage.

My life with Guruji feels like a dream world, with ups and downs. My outlook towards issues has changed completely as my father stands by me always. I am a calm and composed human being, and this transformation has come about only because of our dearest and most loving Gurupita.

[Following section added June 2024]

Faith wins as Guruji grants new life

On 21st October, 2022, my daughter's birthday, we held Guruji's satsang at our home. This was the second such holy event. The first satsang was held on the occasion of my husband's birthday, and Guruji had blessed my husband, stricken with liver cirrhosis, with health. This satsang day, he complained of shortness of breath and uneasiness. He also noticed that one of his legs had swelled up a lot.

The satsang and birthday celebrations went really well by Guruji's grace, and we decided to see the doctor the following morning. We also held back because this was Diwali time and there was bound to be a shortage of medical staff.

Initially, doctors couldn't figure out why my husband was having breathing problems; then an X-ray revealed one of his lungs had filled with water. Doctors admitted him for a week, to slide in a tube that would draw water out gradually such that he had minimal protein loss. I stayed in hospital and would go to Bade Mandir and bring prasad for my husband. Doctors extended his stay to two weeks, promising recovery all the while. I would pray to Guruji, waking up at the holy period of Amritvela.

On the 15th day, the doctor said they would do a pleurodesis (the layers of the pleura are made to stick together, preventing fluid from building up in the space in between) and discharge my husband in two days. I felt relieved and had my father-in-law attend to the hospital as my daughter was missing me at home. My daughter did video calls with her papa. We were elated that his medical issue was heading for a speedy resolution.

But the following morning, my father-in-law called up with grave news: my husband had been shifted to the ICU, as he had contracted an infection in his lungs and his ammonia levels had gone up. He was not recognising people. When I reached the hospital, my husband's hands and legs were tied to the bed. His brain wasn't working well, doctors reported, and he was trying to run away. He didn't recognise me, but responded to my cry of 'Jai Guruji' with repeated 'Jai Gurujis'. I kept my faith intact and went to Bade Mandir again and kept doing ardaas. Around us, patients gave up their struggle in the ICU.

My husband's conditioned worsened. His liver reports were scary and he was put on a ventilator. Doctors put his chances of survival at only 5%. By his bedside, I broke into tears. As I cried and cried, I felt myself being held from behind. I knew it was father-in-law but when I turned back, no one was standing behind me. It was Guruji who had been holding me all the while.

The physician heading the ICU told us that my husband's liver had stopped filtering blood and he needed a transfusion. The next 72 hours were critical and the doctor was not hopeful my husband would survive. Blood donors were found and an injection was given to my husband to prevent internal bleeding. Three days passed and I kept praying and visiting Bade Mandir. Devotees who knew of our plight also began doing joint prayers and satsangs for us. My faith in Guruji kept increasing.

Finally, doctors suggested that we look out for hospitals with specialist doctors who could perform a liver transplant while the patient remained on a ventilator and had an infection. Doctors bleakly predicted that no hospital would take such a patient. Immunosuppressants after the transplant would wreak havoc with my husband's already weakened immune system. Our only option was to find a surgeon who would take this case–yet no one would even though I had been found fit to be a donor after testing and could give half of my liver to my husband. The attending doctor could do nothing but repeat that my husband needed an urgent liver transplant. Meanwhile, my husband's kidneys got affected. His body swelled up to twice its size and almost everyone gave up hope.

Eight days passed. The doctor expressed surprise at the patient surviving for more than a week. She blurted out that some power was saving my husband and that we should keep placing our faith in it. In tears, I immediately showed her Guruji's swaroop. After, I went out for some fresh air and noticed a pair of peacocks–a sign from my Guruji that He would not let my partner die.

I had informed my parents in Kolkata and they came to Delhi. My father told me that our family doctor in Asansol had a nephew who was a liver specialist. He was the head surgeon at Max Saket, and we got an immediate consult. He recommended we shift my husband immediately for a critical liver transplant. There was risk of death on the table, he warned us, but pointed out that we had no other option.

He'd need 57% of my liver for the transplant and asked me to undergo another test immediately. My faith was restored: After all, the percentage required had the numeral seven in it! I was doubly sure that Guruji would make everything turn out fine.

My tests were okay and my husband was shifted overnight. The following day, November 26th, 2022, the liver transplant was done. After the operation, my husband went into a coma for five days. He was put on a ventilator but all his vitals remained stable. He opened his tiny eyes in my presence, as a newly born infant would. Everyone started calling him the miracle man in the hospital. The team of doctors who had taken a chance were overwhelmed with joy.

But the actual miracle man behind this was my Guruji, who reunited a son to their parents, husband to wife, and father to his loving daughter. My husband is leading a healthy life and doing extremely well. Thank you, Guruji, for giving him his life back. A huge thanks also to all the devotees who donated blood and prayed for him. Thank you, my dear Guruji!

Nabanita Duggal, a devotee

June 2024