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That same evening my mother was taken into the emergency room at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in respiratory arrest. Since I'm her only child, I got barraged with many questions about her medical condition: whether or not to have a code; whether or not to wean her off the ventilator; trying to decide what kind of quality of life she could still have. All this while my heart was trying to keep sinus rhythm. I talked to her in my mind and sent the message: "Please don't make me make the decision on your life". I alternated between praying and talking to her mentally.
My prayers were answered, my mother heard my messages; she got off the ventilator and was able to go back to the nursing home. But with all the stress, I lost sinus rhythm. If it wouldn't come back, I would have to go back to the hospital for another cardioversion.
Within three weeks my mother went back into the hospital, this time in a coma, and she never regained consciousness. She transcended on August 26, 1995. Four of us, Prachi, Lalita, Nirmala and I were with my mother the night before she transcended. That was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have experienced - we sang her the Navkar Mantra and other chants, we remembered and shared many "funny" mom stories, and sent her healing energy for her transition, all with Love and Light and tenderness and sadness.
The next day, Nirmala and I were running late from a doctor's appointment I still had to keep. The nurse was worried that we wouldn't make it before my mother died. We got there ten minutes before she transcended. I remember looking at the heart monitor and thinking about LaLita's comment the night before...that my mother wanted to give me her sinus rhythm as a gift if she could. Oh, how strong her heart was, how perfect her sinus rhythm was, even in those final moments. She seemed to be waiting for me to come and be there with her before she left. I know that she knew we were there, even in her coma. As she left at noon, I felt an energy come into my heart. I later found out that my heart had indeed returned to "sinus rhythm". One final gift from my beautiful, loving mother - she gave me life, not once, but twice.
We had a beautiful memorial service for her, and since she was always wanting to give people things (even though she didn't have much), I decided that what she would like best would be to give a gift to the Lighthouse.
The year was not over yet. On November 16th, Crystal, my little Yorkshire who did readings and meditated with me, also transcended at only six years old.
With everything happening so quickly, I remembered and will always remember what my beloved teacher talked with me about one morning on the phone. Gurudev Chitrabhanuji said, “Remember Chetana, it is not what happens to you in the present that matters, for the present is an accumulation of past thoughts, words, actions and reactions being played out in the present moment. So this we cannot change. We must meet the challenges as they come. But we can create our futures differently by watching and being aware of how we
36 - Journey to Enlightenment
| SR No. | 006996 |
| Book Title | Journey to Enlightenment Part 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Chitrabhanu, Chetana Catherine Florida, Nirmala Hanke, Raksha Penni Helsene |
| Publisher | Create Space |
| Publication Year | 2008 |
| Total Pages | 142 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 4 MB |