Note from the editor: For the past few weeks, Zentatsu Richard Baker and his Dharma heir Tatsudo Nicole Baden have been visiting City Center where both Nicole and Richard gave a Dharma talk. They moved to Green Gulch Farm over last weekend and the plan was for Nicole to give the talk there on Sunday.
A version of the letter below, written by Abbot David Zimmerman, was sent to SFZC leadership and has been updated with the help of Richard’s family.
Dear Ones,
I wanted to provide you with an update on Baker Roshi’s health status. As you’ve probably heard, Richard had a stroke Sunday morning while at Green Gulch Farm. Fortunately, he still had enough capacity to walk to Nicole’s room and let her know something was wrong, even though he couldn’t speak.
Richard was quickly taken to Marin General by ambulance, where he was immediately put on blood thinners. (According to Nicole, it was fortunate he was in the Bay Area and not at Crestone, as he most likely would not have gotten the timely and necessary care needed for a potential full recovery.) Richard was transferred to UCSF on Monday.
While there were serious concerns during the first 24 hours, Richard has made very good progress since. He continues to make significant advances in regaining his language ability and has been speaking in complete sentences since Monday. He still struggles with finding words, but can make himself understood. He can read, write and type. His intelligence, humor, and character are very much intact. Fortunately, there is no physical paralysis, and he can now stand and walk independently and take care of himself for the most part.
According to Nicole, the medical team is quite surprised that someone 89 years old is making such a quick recovery, and is still mentally sharp despite the stroke. When his physical therapist was told that Richard is a “meditation teacher”, his therapist said he needs to continue sitting meditation every day as part of his recovery process. So there you have it: doctor-prescribed zazen!
The doctors released Richard on Wednesday to home care for additional rest and recovery. He will do physical and speech therapy over the next seven to ten days. Given the progress Richard has made in the last three days, the prognosis is good that he will have a full recovery. Richard will stay at City Center (which is close to UCSF) until he finishes his initial round of PT and they feel he is ready to travel.
Abbot Mako has kindly offered for Richard to stay in the Abbot’s suite at 300 Page Street, which is ideal for him as it has a private kitchen and (now) an ADA bathroom. Nicole will stay in the office portion of the suite for several nights just to be sure he doesn’t fall. The thought is that it will be therapeutic for Richard to be in a community where the company of others enlivens him and he can practice regaining his speech. They will also have easy access to meals, and Richard can avoid taking the stairs as we now have an elevator (hallelujah!).
In the meantime, the best way to stay up-to-date is through a CaringBridge account Richard’s family set up for him. The family also welcomes messages and communications at bakerroshifamily@gmail.com They will relay messages to Richard and respond to questions via email as they are able.
Together in the Dharma,
Tenzen David Zimmerman
Central Abbot, SFZC