Information about Geshe Tashi
Latest Info (updated when possible)
To all the friends and patrons of Geshe
Tashi:
It has been over
a year since we have posted an update
for Geshe Tashi.
And we have wonderful news. Despite the doctors dire
predictions Geshe is
off all medicines, feeding tubes, is up and about, and
getting stronger each
day. Thank you for all your prayers and support.
The Santa Fe medical community and St. Vincent's Hospital have
been
extraordinary and very generous in giving reduced fees for his care
which
cost well over $100,000. Yet he still has extensive medical bills to
cover
and we are trying to pay something each month. Additionally Geshe Tashi
has
daily living expenses until he is able to return to his teaching
and
assistance to the Buddhist Community.
Once again we appeal to your
continued generosity and support of Geshe
Tashi. If you could, please make a
donation to the Geshe Tashi Gyaltsen
Care
Account to help cover his expenses. You may
mail checks to:
Geshe Tashi Gyaltsen Care
Account
P. O. Box 4033
Santa Fe, New Mexico
87502-4033
All checks
will be directly deposited to his Care Account. Please
note that this is not a tax
deductible donation. Perhaps think of it as a
karma-deductible
donation.
Other news: Geshe Tashi's nephew and wife who moved to Santa Fe
for one year
to care for him have returned to New York and have a new family
member, a
lovely new baby girl.
Last year had multiple
blessings.
Please visit Geshe Tashi's web site: http://www.askalama.com/
Our deepest
appreciation for all your support,
Friends of Geshe
Tashi
--
Contact information for the person
Geshe Tashi has asked to manage this account:
Tresa Vorenberg
P. O.
Box 4033
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-4033
vorenbergt@earthlink.net
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Previous postings
5/5/06 -- Geshi Tashi had an additional hospital stay from Friday, April 7,
2006 to Monday, April 17, 2006. He was having abdominal pain which was
diagnosed as perforated diverticulitis. He was watched carefully in the
hospital and then released without further treatment, hoping that the tiny hole
in the diverticuli is healing itself without surgery or other invasive
procedures. He still:
- Is on a
feeding tube in his stomach (The liquid diet costs $20 per day.)
- Requires
assistance in every area of his life, eating, dressing, etc.
- Has lapses in
focus, etc.
- Need numerous medicines carefully administered multiple times
daily
Fortunately, relatives of Geshe Tashi have moved here from New York
to care for him 24/7. We also need to provide for their very modest financial
needs. They are all staying, rent and utility free, in a donated guest house of
a loving friend.
Financial assistance is needed on a continual basis.
We currently have approximately $15,000.00 of doctor bills, lab tests, and
radiology bills on the plate and more is expected.
We STILL very much appreciate any and
all financial contributions. Please mail to:
Geshe Tashi Medical Care
Fund
c/o Eleanor Caponigro
1440 Bishops Lodge Rd
Santa Fe, NM
87506
If
your donation needs to be tax-deductible, we temporarily without a
non-profit but are working on it. Please send an email to:ecaponigro2003@comcast.net to be on a list, should that become available for us to
accept.
3/4/06: HELP! HELP! HELP! The hospital released Geshe Tashi
last night. He:
- Is on a feeding tube in his stomach
- Requires assistance in every area of his life, eating, dressing, etc.
- Still has lapses in focus, etc.
- Need numerous medicines carefully administered multiple times daily
His nephew and his wife are attempting the 24/7
care but are already overwhelmed. We are trying to line up some
assistance, but it is very costly, so WE NEED MONEY, BADLY. Just
the food for the tube costs $20/day. It is not clear yet what
drugs will cost. Geshe Tashi is still quite ill, but not quite at
the
critical care level required for a hospital. His long term prospects seem positive, if we can get him there.
The hosptal had and
emergency care program for people without money. They don't have
a similar one for nursing rehabilitation. We are simply family
and friends trying to help him.
Please mail contributions to:
c/o Eleanor Caponigro
1440 Bishops Lodge
Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87506
ecaponigro2003@comcast.net
Also
if you know of any programs to help him we would be very interested.
The truth is we are way out of our league here and need help
badly.
2/28/06: Now
WE
WILL NEED HELP! The hospital has held Geshe Tashi
as long as possible, and longer than we previously thought. But
all good things must come to an end. By Thursday or Friday we're
told Geshe Tashi will be released. His nephew and his wife will
be attempting the 24/7
care. Geshe Tashi is still quite ill, but not quite at the
critical care level required for a hospital.
We are still looking for volunteers to cover time
slots. We will be having a training meeting Friday night at 7:30.
The address is 500 Camino de Las Animas, off Old Santa Fe trail,
near the joining with Old Pecos Trail. This is also where he will
be recovering for three months. Don't park in front of the garage
or driveway. Feel free to bring snacks. We are also ironing
out details to collect donations for supplies, equipment, etc. through
a non-profit. Phone 982-5962 for more info.
2/14/06: WE
WILL NEED HELP! The hospital is likely to release Geshe Tashi
possibly within a week. At that point we will still need 24/7
care. We are looking for volunteers to sign up and cover time
slots. Can you help? Send email to dave@nets.com. In
general the work is not intensive. You can read a book or
something. We will train you.
2/10/06: Geshe
Tashi was not quite ready for the physical rehab and had to return to
the hospital bed. It is likely the he will try again next week.
2/2/06: As of January 31st, Geshe Tashi was moved to a physical
rehab section. Visiting hours are limited to 6-8:00 PM and small
numbers of visitors. During the day he is undergoing extensive
therapy, and it is completely scheduled. This stage is expected to
last 2 - 4 weeks. Then we will very likely need a lot of help.
1/27/06 : Geshe Tashi has improved enough that he
was moved to a lower level of critical care. He continues
to improve slowly but focus, walking, etc. are still difficult.
1/23/06 : Another CAT scan showed more slight reduction
in the brain swelling. Geshe Tashi appears to be slightly better.
1/18/06 : Geshe Tashi continues to be in stable condition.
A recent CAT scan showed a mild reduction in the brain swelling.
This is a preliminary finding.
1/14/06 : Geshe Tashi continues to be in stable condition.
He appeared to be very slightly better today.
1/11/06 : Today a procedure was done to relieve pressure.
The hospital has requested no visitors for today to allow him
to ret. Please check tomorrow before visiting. Thanks.
1/9/06 : Stable with slight improvement. Able to conduct very short
conversations, before losing focus. Knew the correct day.
1/8/06 : No perceptable change
1/7/06 : Minor progress.
1/6/06 : Geshe Tashi has improved enough that he was
moved from ICU to PCU, a less critical care unit. This is
excellent news. He is much more communicative and alert
when briefly conversing with a friend, said that he is working on
gathering and using his internal energy.
1/5/06 : Geshe Tashi's doctor reported that he is stable and
incrementally better,
responding by smiling and briefly speaking
and understanding before returning to
sleep.
On a more subtle level a close family member had a positive
dream, and a mo was thrown that indicates a positive long-term
outcome.
1/4/06 : Geshe Tashi's doctors have been able to make a highly likely
diagnosis. The doctors began treatment using medicine to reduce the
brain swelling. This is likely to take time. However this is great news,
because now they have isolated the cause.
Ceremony
Many thanks to the Tibetan Community and the Drepung Monks for conducting
a Medicine Buddha and Tara Ceremony to promote Geshe Tashi's healing.
Background
Recently while in Santa Fe, Geshe Tashi began to became ill. He was lucid at times,
incoherent at other times. He complained of severe headaches and throwing up.
His symptoms seemed to lessen, then come back.
His friends brought him to St. Vincent's hospital where they discovered he
had meningitis, i.e. swelling in the fluid sack surrounding the brain.
There are multiple types of meningitis: bacterial, viral, fungal, etc. In some cases the
treatment for one type can be very damaging, if one has a different type. Therefore
it is critical to know which type you have before treating it. The tests can take days to
grow the cultures.
The doctors needed to do extensive testing, but the were able to identify the cause.
They are treating it, as well as the inflamation.
After one month in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and PCU, Geshe Tashi was moved
to an intensive in-hospital physical and occupational therapy wing. He is able to
conduct longer conversations, but still loses focus or falls asleep.
What You Can Do
Pray. Really. His condition is still very serious.
Visiting may not be the best idea. He is working very hard in the therapy
sessions and he needs rest. If you visit please avoid creating extra work for
his doctors and nurses. That takes away from the time they can devote
to healing him.
As we contemplate the future, we will definitely need caretakers
and funds to aid in his recovery once he leaves the hospital.
If you are interested please contact us at the email address
below. It is not clear right now what form this will take.
We are also setting up an email list to provide immediate information
about him if major events occur. If you wish to be on the list, please
send your email address to dave@nets.com.
Relating to the Hospital Staff
Gentlepeople,
The hospital staff informed us they are being overwhelmed with
suggestions, requests for detailed information, or attempts to provide
medicines and treatments. These actions, are obviously well
meant,
but detract from his overall care. The doctors and hospital staff
are
heavily burdened, and are doing
an excellent job with a very complex
medical situation. Every
interruption or long conversation takes
them away from doing what they do so
well,which is to care for the patients.
Please allow his caregivers to do the best possible job. Please
exercise the principle of non-attachment and direct suggestions,
information requests, etc., to the email address below. All emails
will be promptly taken into account. Thank you.
We Appreciate Everyone's Love and Concern