MGR medical treatment from Apollo to brooklyn newyork

MGR was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on October 5, 1984, for a “mild asthma attack with fever and cold”
MGR, at 67, “was driven to the hospital in his car accompanied by his wife, V.N. Janaki

On October 16, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi flew down to Madras and met MGR in the hospital. Promising all help from the Centre, she told presspersons that she met the Chief Minister and that “he smiled” at her. The next day, a team of specialists was flown in from the United States to treat him. They also held a press meet, in which they said MGR, at the age of 67, was very healthy. On October 20 the neurophysician Dr Kanu from Japan arrived to treat him

A fortnight after MGR was admitted to hospital, Governor S.L. Khurana announced that Nedunchezhiyan would look after the portfolios of the Chief Minister. A local media report of October 20 claimed that DMK leader M. Karunanidhi had met Janaki in the hospital and inquired about the Chief Minister’s health. A month passed with MGR in hospital but the government functioned smoothly.

MGR was airlifted to Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York, on November 5. He underwent a kidney transplant on December 19. Before the surgery Janaki appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to pray for her husband’s recovery. The appeal went “viral”, with people offering prayers for a successful operation and his speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, back home a few significant political developments took place. Indira Gandhi had been assassinated and Rajiv Gandhi had been made Prime Minister. He wanted to conduct early elections to Parliament, a proposal that Tamil Nadu accepted. The State Assembly was dissolved on a unanimous decision, and MGR filed his nomination papers from the New York hospital, for the Andipatti seat. The elections were held in December 1984, and MGR won by 30,000 votes. He returned to a tumultuous welcome on February 4, 1985, and took oath as Chief Minister for the third time on February 10. After almost two years in office, he died of a heart attack on Christmas eve in 1987.