On May 22, 2012, Pratima had her full recovery from Parkinson’s. Four years later, she passed away. It has been 10 years since I wrote about her passing. Pratima has been an inspiration to many Recipe Warriors, and today, I would like to pay a tribute to her.
Re-post of May 22, 2016 blog post regarding Pratima’s passing
“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!!!”
Pratima’s inspiration lives on
It has been ten years since Pratima passed. However, her inspiration lives on. For those of you who are new to the blog and may not be familiar with her story, click here to read about her recovery journey and full recovery fourteen years ago.
If you take away anything from her story of strength and perseverance, please take away this:
In March of 2012, Pratima found self-love and self-acceptance, and she finally knew she was worthy. Here it is again from the blog comments:
“pratima says:
March 17, 2012 at 8:05 am
yes i am worth it thank you howard.”
Two months later she finished her full recovery.
Thank you, Pratima, my Indian mom! You opened your heart and soul to the healing, and you have inspired our entire community of Recipe Warriors all of these years. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Love and blessings, Howard (Your American son).
Please post a comment below letting us know how you have been inspired by Pratima’s recovery, or if you are first learning about her now, how you are inspired by her recovery now. I would like to send this blog post to her family with your comments.
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Final Note: Last week, I posted that my book is now available in Spanish and German languages. Two days ago, my book became available in French language. Click here for the French version of my book, Combattre Parkinson…et gagner.
Pratima came to acceptance, Howard, and self-love, as you so faithfully teach.
Her story is an inspiration as I journey towards recovery. Thank you for bringing her story into my life. It is an apt reminder that I have the power to heal myself.
Quite simply, this is a heartfelt and inspirational message of hope for me!
May she rest in peace. Thank you!
🙏🏻♥️
“yes i am worth it thank you howard.” –
Such simple & potent words, all in lower case, no “I”, no ego, just the full and humble acceptance of one’s self…
I am inspired and grateful to you, Pratima, for your journey.
Honoring your memory, and sending blessings to your family…
Thank you for sharing and celebrating Pratima’s recovery story. I am in awe of her family’s commitment to not only communicate your Recipe to her but to literally perform the physical part with her until she was able to on her own. I am inspired by Pratima’s unwavering faith and self love; that is what I seek to round out my healing journey. She did the work and lived symptom free for four glorious years of the rest of her life on this amazing planet. How cool is that? She knew she was worth it!
I too am worth it! I better get busy!
Always grateful to you and our fellow warriors!
Pratima, you not only inspire each of us, but we sense your eternal presence in each day of our journey….
I express to you all my love and gratitude!!!! And I know you can feel it beyond the veil of the third dimension!!!
Andrea
Today I said to myself that I’m actually allowed to have a full recovery.
I am worth it!
Today’s blog post about Pratima is so moving and perfect.
I’m so inspired by Pratima’s journey.
Thank you Howard for showing us that the light that’s within is where the healing is.
Amazing courage of Pratima is an inspiration for all of us fighting Parkinson’s. We are all worth it and healing every day. Thank you Howard
What an inspirational testimony! May you rest in peace Pratima. Many Blessings to your family! Thank you Howard for sharing! I am so grateful that God has led me to you Howard! I am worthy, I will recover and I will be a winning testimony!
I’m worthy of complete recovery. With God’s help, I have the power to heal myself, making use of the healing energies that are here. I am worth the effort, the diligence and the devotion to the higher good. I am worthy of my healing and recovery every minute of every day and I give deep gratitude for every step of the journey.
Pratima’s story has inspired me, b/c she was able to let go of her Parkinson’s diagnosis after it had progressed to stage 4 with multiple medications. If she can do this, it seems to me that we all have a chance.
Thank you Howard and thank you Pratima for demonstrating that Parkinson’s is curable!
Howard’s guidance and our perseverance can get us out of a pit. Pratima seemed to subjugate the mind and body to the soul and achieved medication withdrawal by beating her demons too. Great spirit!
She is an inspiration to us all. We are all worth it and will achieve our full recovery just as Pratima did. Keep the faith. Love and blessings to her family.
Thank you Howard
Pratima’s story is powerful and inspiring. What a simple statement that announced her recovery: “i am worth it.” How beautiful! It is a reminder that of everything that God has created, he also created me. He cares about me…He loves me…I am worth it.
Thank you Howard!
A truely inspiring account of Pratima’s recovery. Her positive attitude made the difference.
I try to think of Pratima when I am feeling low due to my symptoms knowing that being negative is the wrong attitude in the path towards being PD free.
Thank you Howard and fellow warriors for your support on the path.
What an incredible story!!
It is true….All things are possible with God!!
We are all worth it!
Blessings to her family!
First you heal the soul and the mind and the body will follow!!!!
What a wonderful reminder of the power of self acceptance. This is a BIG one! What a warrior Pratima was. Her reliance and understanding of the mind body connection. It’s truly all there is…the true authentic self.
Thank you for sharing Howard.
And So it is……
Pratima was and always will be an inspiration, as will her family. They are all amazing and thank you Howard for sharing her story. It is humbling to know what she overcame to finally heal her soul and realize that…
“yes i am worth it” is quite legacy and lives on with Pratima.
“we are all worth it.”
“But she persevered and stayed on the path toward her recovery.”
Thank you, Pratima for your never-ending strength and spirit!! You are a remarkable example of what is possible for us all. Your inspiration lives on and you will forever be remembered for helping pave the way to future recoveries. ❤️
#Temporary #Overcomer
Pratima.
She had learned
that strength does not mean
never falling.
She knew difficult days,
silent battles,
moments when no one saw
how much courage she needed.
And still, she kept going.
Not because she had no fear,
but because her hope
was greater than her doubts.
She didn’t have to prove to anyone
who she was.
A woman
who knew her own worth.
You are worthy too.
We are worthy.
Endless gratitude, dear Howard,
for your loving support.