Today would have been the four year anniversary of Pratima being symptom free from Stage 4 Advanced Parkinson’s. However, it is with sadness and a heavy heart that I share with all of you that Pratima has passed away.
Pratima recently became ill with breathing issues and an infection. She was under doctor’s care, and finally, her heart gave out. She was my Indian mom and she gave me my Indian family. To my Indian dad, and my Indian siblings, Bhavna, Dipti, Gopi, and Bhavesh, I send you love and hugs during this difficult time.
And Pratima, my Indian mom, I give you this tribute to honor your life.
When Bhavna first contacted me, it was simply this: On August 12, 2011, I received a brief email, “dear howard, my mom has parkinson stage 4. after reading your personal experience i am trying to help her out and i feel i am succeeding. thank you so much. bhavna india.” I contacted Bhavna, and shortly thereafter began coaching Bhavna in how to assist Pratima with the Recipe. Pratima initially was incapable of performing the Qigong, so it took the love of a daughter to move her mother through the motions.
Where Pratima’s journey to recovery began: Pratima had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and was prescribed Syndopa (Sinemet) Plus 4 times per day, Pacitane twice a day and Syndopa CR at night, plus an anti-depressant that she did not take. By June of 2011, she was in an advanced stage of Parkinson’s, which is reflected in her medical records, and some of her symptoms were marked bradykinesia, difficulty turning in bed, could not get out of bed by herself, in a wheelchair, limited walking and only with a walker, extreme tremors and rigidity, and loss of speech.
Pratima showed strength and spirit beyond most people’s comprehension. She fought the disease, she fought the medication withdrawal, she fought her Adrenaline-driven fearful mind, and she fought her wavering faith in herself to see it through to the end when facing her personal demons. But she persevered and stayed on the path toward her recovery.
And then one day, I saw this comment on the blog:
“pratima says:
March 17, 2012 at 8:05 am
yes i am worth it thank you howard.”
The final breakthrough: “yes i am worth it.” There it was. The healing of the soul; knowing she was “worth it.” First you heal the soul and the mind and the body will follow. And so it was for Pratima. Two months later she finished the Parkinson’s journey, a journey of coming back from Stage 4 Advanced Parkinson’s to fully recovered, cured from Parkinson’s.
Bhavna asked me to thank all of you for the love and support you have shown over the years, and specifically, she asked me to remind all of you that you are worth it!
Here are a few pictures from Pratima’s journey.
Where she started:
The love of a daughter helping her mother to stand:
The love of her American son saying good bye for now to his Indian mom:
I am certain that Pratima would want all of you to know that just like her, YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
All my best,
Howard
Pratima you did not die in vain for you have given us all hope. God Bless you and keep you!
Love and prayers to her family.
Pratima’s body died but she is still alive in a brand new body. We aren’t our bodies, we are ourselves. She was strong and will do fine in her new life.
Yes, and she will have the knowledge and experience of her conquest of Parkinson’s to help her in her next life. Eternal blessing dear lady….
My prayers are with Pratima and her family!
What an inspiration. I only hope my own mother can be cured of the awful debilitating disease.
God Bless the family and my positive thoughts are with the family as they celebrate a wonderful life. X
Pratima Thank you for proving to all of us once again that parkinson’s is curable through the recipe for recovery! We thank you for your courage and determination! Now you have moved on to bigger and better things. Now you can encourage each of us behind the scenes. We love you!
Thanks for sharing Pratima with us! Blessings to her family and to you Howard.
Thank you Pratima!
It is so sad to hear the passing of Pratima who gave us inspiration and hope to recover from this condition. She’ll not be forgotten and will remain in our hearts. My deepest sympathy and condolence to her family.
My thoughts are with Pratima’s family at this time of their loss. How wonderful that they were able to support her to achieve freedom from Parkinson’s for the last four years of her life.
What an inspiration Pratima is to all of us struggling to be cured and how happy she must have been to be free of Parkinson’s these last four years. Her daughter’s love and dedication to helping her mother is most admirable. Love truly can conquer the impossible! My heart goes out to her family for the loss of this truly remarkable woman.
I’m so sad to receive news that Pratima has passed. Her perseverance, courage and faith were an inspiration … a beautiful shining light for me and others in this group. My condolences and gratitude to Pratima’s family and to you, Howard.
My thanks to Pratima and her family for showing all of us that we, too can fight Parkinson’s and win!
Love, Trish
My condolences dear Howard,to you and her family. I am so sorry for your loss. She was an inspiration to many.
I am so sorry to hear of Pratimas passing. Thank you Howard for helping her so that her last years were without Parkinson’s.
Blessings to you and her family.
Barbara
I am sorry to hear Pratima has passed. My condolences to Howard and Bhavna and family. You are a wonderful family. Thanks Pratima for proving us that Parkinsons is curable.
Sincere condolences to the family and friends Pritima!
My name is Tom and I am the husband of Shawna Carol. I have been supporting Shawna in her fight against Parkinson’s for over 10 years now.
Since discovering and committing to Howard’s Recipe for Recovery, I have read to her from the blog every evening. So many times I would repeat, Howard did it, Marie did it, Betty did it, Pratima did it, Helen did it and you can too.
Though I never knew Pratima nor she me, she has blessed my life and Shawna’s too. I want to send a prayer of thanks to her soul for the courage and light of her example. And to Bhavna and all the beautiful members of Pratima’s family, thank you also for the blessing of your example. I know full well the depth of the challenge a caregiver faces, and I stand in awe of your commitment and your love.
Blessings,
Tom Cobb
Tom,
What beautiful words you have a written here. Thank you for your example and the curing caring love you have sent out to all of us. Blessings and love and light to you. Susana
Pratima I am so gutted to hear of your passing. You were and are such an Inspiration to me. I always felt you got the ” soul” bit of the recipe first and that’s how you recovered so quickly. As the others have said, you’re an inspiration and now we have one of out finest warriors in Spirit. I know you are with each of us now in a special way. Huge loss to your beautiful family. Gods speed my friend. Big Love. Karen xx
My heartfelt condolences to Pratima’s family and to you Howard. She and her family have been an inspiration to us all. Thank you for being part of my life. God bless you and may you be in a place of peace.
Love and thank you
i sobbed when i read of her passing….such a shining light!…
De México.
Descanse en paz Pratima.
Es admirable hallar el camino y seguirlo. Como lo hizo ella. Se necesita mucho coraje y tener muy claro el propósito.
Muchos apenas empezamos a vislumbrar el camino, y nos estancamos por la falta de determinación en seguirlo. Nos frena estar aferrados a nuestros esquemas mentales de toda la vida.
Mantenerse en el ahora es fundamental.
Tengo 7 años con los síntomas. No tomo medicamentos.
Aún estoy intentándolo.
Translation:
From Mexico.
Rest in peace Pratima.
It is admirable to find the way and follow it. How did she do it. It takes a lot of courage and be clear about the purpose.
Many are just beginning to glimpse the way, and we stagnate for lack of determination to follow it. We are slow because of clinging to our mindsets of life.
Staying in (our hearts) is now fundamental.
I am 7 years with symptoms. I do not take drugs.
I’m still trying.
So sorry to hear the news
and indeed what a great inspiration. What a blessing her last years were parkinsons free. Condolences to all her family.
Pratima was an inspiration to us all on this journey and I am sad to hear of her passing.
Condolences to the family and to Howard. X
Dear Bhai (Brother Howard) and extended family,
Thank you for this beautiful tribute. My mom was a strong lady with a beautiful giving heart. She, I know is proud to have been part of this journey and be a part of this extended family. To each and everyone of you who is on this journey to recovery, I am saying on the behalf of Pratima and her family “you are worth it”. Thank you for your prayers and blessings. She lives in all our memories. Love and blessings to all.
Prayers for succsess in your journey in recovery.
Love always
Diipti and family
Thank you precious Pratima and your dear family for being an inspiration to me. You fought from the depths of debilitating symptoms to become symptom-free. You discovered “You are worth it.” Thank your family and each of you for sending this message to me. I am worth it. Pratima is worth it. Howard is worth it. Marie is worth it. Betty is worth it. Helen is worth it. And each of you is worth it. Sending love and blessings and the knowledge and liberation of our self worth. Susana
Blessings to Pratima and her family. Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Pratima has a symbolic name to me. ‘Prat’ is talk in Swedish. She experienced loss of speech, but recovered, reconquered the words. She is a wonderful example to me – and to all of us who are struggling to be able to talk and be understood. It is possible Pratima made it!
It is with much Gratitude and Love that I send blessings and prayers out to Pratima’s beautiful family. Thank you to Howard and Pratima for touching my life in such a powerful, beautiful way !!!
Sending love and blessings to all
Debbie
Dear Howard,
We are really sorry to hear about Pratima’s sudden demise. In these moments of great ordeal, words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow we feel. We pray for her eternal repose and express our deepest and sincere condolences to you and the bereaved family.
May the lord rest her soul in peace.
Dr. Divya & Sukanya (Mom)
many thanks to all of you for your love, support and prayers.
Bhavna
My condolences to the family.