Very powerful experience!!
Anurag Bhatnagar – Experience Aug 2017
Hello everyone. My name is Anurag Bhatnagar and I was introduced to this wonderful philosophy 19 years back. My wife and both my daughters also practice and we as a Soka family have had many life changing experiences in this journey of faith. Today I am sharing a series of experiences which we had in last few months.
My wife Puja has been a chronic liver patient for last 17 years. Since beginning of this year she was not keeping too well and we were consulting doctors regularly in Dubai where we were based for last 3 years. The medicines which were working well for her for so many years stopped working and her liver function tests were going all haywire. Her condition was going from bad to worse and we did not have insurance cover or affordable specialist doctors in Dubai. Everyone suggested me to bring her to India immediately. On 16th March her condition became serious and I had to bring her to Delhi on urgent basis. We went to the meet the doctor straight from the airport. The doctors after examining her immediately advised her to be admitted in the hospital for a series of investigations. She was admitted and all her tests were conducted in the hospital. Her biopsy reports came in mid-april and it was confirmed that she has liver cirrhosis.
All this while we were continuously chanting and praying but Puja was chanting with a goal of not having to go for a transplant operation. Our senior leaders suggested us to only chant for the right doctor, right diagnose and full recovery for Puja. They asked Puja to have complete faith in Gohonzon and believe that Gohonzon is there to protect her. They also suggested not to put conditions while asking for a solution in front of Gohonzon. Just have faith and pray ….. and everything will be alright.
"MUSTER YOUR FAITH AND PRAY TO THIS GOHONZON THEN WHAT IS THERE THAT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED"
Although cirrhosis was diagnosed the doctors were still trying to delay the transplant process by giving higher dosage of steroids. This higher dosage actually reacted badly on Puja and she went into a high disillusionment stage. She was confined to bed and unable to do basic things for herself. Even in this stage of unconscious mind all she would do is to chant nonstop, we would have to ask her to stop so that she can take some rest. She used to thank people and doctors/nurses while in that state. Considering that we did not have a house of our own here in Delhi, we were at our relatives place from time to time and their help and support was much more than needed.
The situation was looking grim for Puja and she was taken to hospital ICU but we felt the case was not being treated with upmost care. We thought of taking a second opinion on urgent basis. One of Puja's old friend called me and insisted that we should meet Doctor at Max Hospital as he is one of the best doctor in India and is known to them as well. We met the doctor and he said that we need to admit her immediately and an urgent liver transplant is the last and only solution for Puja. I was advised that I need to arrange a donor and required funds at the earliest. (This was May end)
Meanwhile, I was also getting worried about my job as I was unable to attend regular office since Mid-March. I was continuously praying for this situation as well. My CEO called me one day and offered me permanently moving back from Dubai to India office and a sabbatical (Without Pay) till the time Puja gets better. I thanked Gohonzon for this surprise and big support from my company.
We started to look for the eligible donor within the family as we were told that only a close family member can donate. Each member from my side of family and Puja's side was declared not eligible due to various medical conditions. We all got worried as there was no immediate donor available. Desperate to find a donor I put out an appeal on Facebook "Looking for an Angel Donor"
The hospital gave me an estimate of 25 lakhs for the surgery and Post-surgery expenses. I really had no idea where this money would come from as I had already used all the funds available with me till now and there was nothing left with me. One friend suggested that I should put out an appeal through a crowdfunding site to collect for funds. I was not too excited for this as in the past we ourselves have ignored so many of these appeals considering them fake. As I always do, I chanted with a belief that NO PRAYER GOES UNANSWERED and sat down to devise the campaign on the site.
Puja's fund campaign was put out on 7th June and by 10th June we received 80% of the required funds. Mystically within one week we achieved our required funds for Puja's surgery. Over 400 people from 16 different countries came forward and contributed for Puja. I started getting phone calls from friends we have not been in touch for 10/15/20 years offering their support. People were running campaign for Puja in their own respective countries. We felt that yes we are being protected by Gohonzon and my confidence of finding a eligible donor grew stronger. The fund campaign was the most successful campaign ever run by the fund company and it was covered by the press as well.
Diashonin says "If you carry out your faith and thirst for the way, then the sufferings of change and impermanence will become no more than yesterday's dream"
The funds were sorted out but the donor was still not available. Through my FB post many people, known & unknown, came forward and five people went ahead and got their tests done. One after the other all of them got rejected or dropped out due to various reasons. The days were going away fast and we did not have qualified donor.
I shared the situation with my leaders and they suggested to continue to chant for Shoten Zenjin to appear in our lives. The prayers continued and faith got stronger that something good will happen …. And it had to happen. As bodhisatvas of the earth we can't give up and we didn't. WINTER ALWAYS TURNS TO SPRING and finally it did.
I received a call from my friend in Chennai whom we have not met for over 10 years that he would like to become a live liver donor for Puja. He got his initial tests done and the results were favorable. We requested him to come over to delhi for further tests. He came over and after few hurdles he was medically approved by the panel of doctors. But the doctors said that we need to convince the external approval committee and it was a difficult task. A lot of paperwork was involved as we had to prove our 10 year old friendship. We had to even get in touch with our University back in UK to get certificates of our time together in the University. Slowly and gradually we completed all the paperwork and our meeting with the external committee was fixed for 18th July.
The committee interview was much harder than we all had expected. Each one of us was grilled by them for long and even after spending 3 hours with them they said 'We are not convinced'. Puja and me were constantly chanting outside the meeting room as this was seemingly our last chance of going in for a live liver donor surgery. Finally after 4 hours we were informed that the committee has approved our proposal as a very special and rare case. All 4 of us celebrated as if we have already won the battle. The staff asked us to come back on 19th July so that they can admit Puja for the operation.
Sensei writes "Chanting daimoku is the only way to break through deadlocks, whether of the body or the mind. I believe in my eventual victory. Daimoku will be its driving force."
Finally after all the struggles we have a donor and required funds for the surgery to happen. Puja and the donor were admitted on 20th July for surgery to happen on 21st July. We thanked Gohonzon for the opportunity given to us to strengthen our faith one more time.
On 20th evening I was told to arrange 2 units of AB+ Platelets and 30 Units of Blood for tomorrow's operation. My friends and colleagues once again took this challenge on them and started to arrange people through social media. By 12 noon on 21st we were asked by hospital blood bank staff to stop people from coming over as the required blood has already been received. I could not even thank most of them as I was by the OT. People came, gave blood and went away. I felt blessed and protected from everywhere.
On 21st the staff came to take Puja for operation at 7 AM and she asked them to wait for 5 minutes as she wanted to do her morning gongyo before she leaves for the operation. She went in the OT chanting, smiling and full of confidence. The surgery went on for 13 long hours and was declared a big success by the doctors. The team said that they were amazed with the way both of them have gone through the long operation. Our SGI family in Dubai and India kept on chanting through out the duration of the surgery. Puja and the donor were moved to ICU by the night and they were doing well. A big sense of relief for all of us. I thanked Gohonzon for the protection and blessings.
The donor remained in ICU for 3 days and was finally discharged from hospital on the 7th day. Puja remained in ICU isolation for 11 days where nobody was allowed to meet her due to high risk of infection. Even I was only allowed to see her on a CCTV. I could see her improving each day where she would chant for hours whenever she was awake. She introduced all the doctors and nurses to Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo. She even made staff write Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo on the ICU board so that she can see it always and chant. The doctors started to greet her with Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo instead of saying Good Morning. Seems she was on her Kosen Rufu mission in the hospital. She was moved to her room on 1st Aug and finally discharged on 8th Aug. The doctors were very happy and surprised at the quick recovery Puja was showing. Puja is now at home and recovering well. Her blood parameters are coming back to normal and she is looking forward to a new life.
'Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo is like a roar of a lion, what sickness can therefore be an obstacle'
Puja and the donor's story was published on the front page of TOI followed by various interviews media interviews and articles including The Hindu, Zee News, The Quint, BBC Tamil. The articles have also appeared in Indonesia and UK.
Nichiren Daishonin says "misfortune will change into fortune. Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved? "
A lot of my fellow members are going through struggles. I would like to tell them that me along with all the members of SGI family are chanting for them and are always there through their struggle. The victory will eventually come…..it has to come.
Gosho says "Even a feeble person will not stumble if those supporting him are strong, but a person of considerable strength, when alone, may fall down on an uneven path"
I wish to express my gratitude to Gohonzon, my fellow members, my friends & family, for the strength, support and wisdom we received during this journey. I am convinced that through our faith we will overcome all struggles and lead a victorious life.
I determine to be a true disciple of Sensei and come out as victorious from all challenges by treating them as opportunities to strengthen my faith.
Thank you!!
Sent from my iPhone
