Chapter 4

New Catholic Church

http://www.zcgvaz.com/i/NCC.htm

Started 24 April 2008

Last Updated 20 Novemeber 2008  p

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1995 - 2000

     The phone rang.  Her father was admitted to the hospital.  No one knew he was ill. Her parents were apparently in the house for some time.  Her youngest brother apparently left.  Then the housemaid left.  No one has heard from them.  Her aunts decided to visit and check on her parents.  Her father was bed ridden and apparently unaware of reality.  He was staring, unkempt and immobile in bed.  Her mother was ambulatory but was not making sense about what happened.  She was agitated.  They were both malnourished.  Her aunts contacted her middle brother.  He was stationed in a different province and was tied up recently with different types of emergencies in the country.  He was the commanding officer of the area.  Election violence added up to the socioeconomic problems.  He somehow managed to get to their parents’ house.  The details of what happened were not found out. 

     It was a bad time for Lynn as well.  She had exhausted ways to continue her career.   She had to try to find a way to get to work without driving.  She also had to limit procedures to be performed by her to a minimum, as simple as possible and without help.  Her eyesight was declining but very slowly and at a constant rate.  In her estimate she could manage to continue at a slow and very careful pace till 2004 if she continues to do all the things to help slow down the degeneration of her retinae.  She has to maintain periodic check ups for prognostic reasons.  The possible new remedies promised when the first retinal transplant succeed in dogs also partly succeeded in humans but did not result in good eyesight.  The still unapproved supplements and diet modifications were working for her.  She had to continue those unless some adverse reaction happens to her or someone else.  Waiting for approval of these measures by the Medical Profession would be too late.   

     She decided to start her own office just a short drive from their home.  There would be no one to help her.  She would do everything herself except major office cleaning.  The lady who comes to her house can also come to the office.  Building maintenance would be handled by the landlord.  He would take care of the utilities as well.  She would have to be owner, physician, Office Manager, Purchaser, Billing Person, Clerk, Accountant, Nurse, Telephone person, etc.

     “Who is going to work on the computer?”  Her husband asked.

     “I am.”

     The first time she tried to turn one on, she pressed the button on the monitor screen thinking that it was the computer.

     “Try again.”  Their daughters suggested.

     She tried one component after another.  The young ladies finally pointed out the start button on the correct piece of equipment.  It was more departmentalized than her personal typewriter/word processor.  She made all her office forms with that and made several prints with her personal copier.  It would have been a very slow if not impossible start using a computer. 

     She went to a computer class for beginners given by a local computer shop.   She took a correspondence course in Small Business Administration.  It included Basic Computer lessons and a complete computer set after passing the required tests.  At least she would not have to worry about inadvertently purchasing devices that were not compatible with each other.  She went to the Community College and took a short course in Pagemaker and Part One of Excel.  Part Two was more about fancy presentation of reports and graphs.  After learning sorting data and doing spreadsheets, she thought she was ready.  Time was not a luxury.  She found an offer for patient billing software and ordered it to see if she could master it.  Medicare billing software was provided by the parent insurance plan at the time.  She asked for the starter package.  Everything was new to her.  She used to simply order others to do everything.  She had no idea till then that the doctor’s job was just a small portion of the work.  Most were to be done by office personnel who were to be  non-existent.  The most time consuming job was getting the appropriate required  forms properly filled out legibly and submitted to different places promptly.  This was in addition to patient records.  No doctor likes to do paperwork.  This may be the real challenge.  Treating the patients was far easier.  Her husband was more concerned about how she would do with cases she did not take care of in the past.  Her liability insurance coverage will not cover legal fees and lost income.  Their daughters were more optimistic.  They have seen her do really strange things in the past as well as accomplish what her contemporaries did not or were not willing to.  So, this would be one more unlikely experiment in a lifelong series.  Live and learn.  We’ll never know what we can do unless we try.  Hands and knees are for getting up after a fall.  Most humans were born fully equipped.

     The local bank manager studied her Business Plan.  She was going to open a solo Medical Practice in a one room office not exactly in the prime area plus later open a boutique catering to the still non-existing health and exercise conscious segment of town.

     “You plan to earn something the first year?!”

     “Yes.”

      Her response sounded confident enough but the probable result was doubtful.  He has been approached by several would be business owners in his career.  He knew better but was very cordial and diplomatic.  One of the first lessons in her correspondence course was to find out where to get a loan in a hurry if needed as usually expected.  Part of preparing to start a business is being familiar with heads of establishments that may have to bail the business owner from a debt.  It is also frequent to lose rather than earn during the first few years.  Starting capital should be enough to accommodate that and preferably more.

     “You see, I really do not need a loan now.”  She explained.  “I just want to know the mechanics of obtaining one so things will be done properly when I need one.  I am in the process of going to different institutions to figure out which would be best able to provide me with a speedy result when I need it.  I am making notes of what each one requires of the borrower and which ones would be more fair and friendly.”

     Open House was supposed to be in two weeks.  No, it had to be postponed.  It was not the proper time to make an emergency trip to the Phillipines either.  Pope John Paul II announced his planned visit the same week.  According to the current interpreters of Nostradamus’ prophesies, the pope was going to die in 1995.  No, she would not want to be in the same place if and when it happens … in the Philippines yet?  How tragic can it get?

     Then there was a problem with the local WOWI club.  For some reason, all possible candidates for presidency had one pressing problem or another.  She reluctantly accepted.  She has to make her trip before the installation of officers and the first meeting.  Cinco de Mayo is a big day in states with large Mexican American communities.  She can manage to get members of other ethnic groups to attend the opening day of her big venture.  It would be a resounding ‘Grito’ … ‘Cry’ on her part.  The challenge would be just as great.  She was basically at the end of the road.  Any movement any direction but down would count as progress.  She scheduled her trip on the week after Pope John Paul II was there.  A hotel worker noticed something odd and notified the authorities.  A man from a different country was planning an assassination.  It was foiled changing the date Nostradamus’ interpreters believed it would come true.  The culprit managed to escape. He was caught in a different country later.  Pope John Paul II was not hurt.  He survived two attempts changing predictions twice.  The first was in1981.  President Anwar Sadat was killed that year. President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt and similarly changed an omen. 

     Lynn made the trip by herself.  The middle brother was unable to meet her at the airport.  The youngest brother and his wife waited in the room reserved for families.  Lynn had no idea which door to exit out of to get into the correct room.  The last thing she needed was to find herself alone in the street with no local currency in her possession and unable to get back in to get some.  She walked back and forth across both doors and corresponding surveillance camera several times and with enough time lapse in between to give them a chance to notice her and move to where she would select to go.  They run from one waiting room to the other as she moved back and forth.  They found her!  It was noisy, crowded, hot and humid outside.  Taxi drivers were competing with each other for passengers.  It was not the proper setting for getting lost.  They made it home.

     Her mother looked better than she expected.  The house did too.  A new maid was hired and two young nurses have been taking turns to take care of her father at home.  Her parents’ room was turned into a patient’s room.  Her mother moved to her old room so they have to share quarters.  The ‘Boys’ room was reserved for the oldest of her brothers and his wife.  They arrived the previous day.  Her father’s three sisters were in the living room.  An older cousin who stayed with her family for a few years in the mountains was also there.  Lynn has called for a family meeting as soon as possible.  Her family took her word literally and was there to get started before she could even unwind.  The middle brother was tied up with emergencies as expected.  He would catch up later. 

     Lynn went into the master bedroom to see her father.  He was sitting up in bed propped up with pillows and steadied by the two young Nursing School graduates.

     “Look who’s here!”  Her mother told him excitedly.

     He looked at her with sharp penetrating rebuking eyes.  Lynn knew what he meant.  He was the leader of his generation as her grandfather was of his.  Her grandfather had multiple mini strokes but managed to wake up and carry on regular activities each time.  He also muttered the same words. 

     “Pela, you poor one.”

     He was worried about the youngest daughter who was the only one not able to continue her education and was not financially sound.

     Her oldest uncle also had multiple strokes and was bedridden after the last one.  That was not a happy situation.  Her father did not want to be in the same boat but unfortunately was in worse shape.  He was completely helpless.  All four extremeties were spastic.  He was bedridden and with a urinary bladder cathether, unable to communicate except through his eyes and only for that moment.  He flashed his message.  She projected her mental response.  She swallowed hard.  Then his faclal expression softened up.

     Her aunts and cousin waited for her opinion.  She had already discussed everything with her brothers at different intervals throughout his hospital stay.  She had doctors’ reports and copies of his workup.  The youngest brother kept her informed of what happened in the hospital.  The middle brother took care of important decisions in management.  Lynn passed the information from both to the oldest of the three who was in Canada.  Now they are ready to make long term decisions, medical and financial for both parents and all siblings.

     Lynn did not speak immediately.  The oldest aunt looked at her expectantly.  She had pulled a chair and sat right outside the bedroom door to make sure she would not miss a word.  “Oh no!”  She cried.  “That’s not what I want to hear.” 

     The other two looked at her numbly.  She did not have to explain details.  A younger uncle has died of cancer of the lung years ago.  Another uncle is disabled with Emphysema.  His son is also a doctor.  The daughter of the oldest uncle is another doctor.  Medical personnel in the family cannot alter life.

     They proceeded with the meeting.  They can inform the middle brother later of what the majority decided on if indeed decisions can be made.  He showed up later in full uniform, with a radiophone and a beeper.  Both kept ringing and distracting him.  Whenever he voted the same way as the majority, they accepted his vote.  When he disagreed with them, they asked … “What!!!?”  They eventually agreed on a general plan.

     Her father’s bank accounts and pension have to be withdrawn immediately.  His land parcels will be offered for sale.  All proceeds have to be divided among the four siblings and their mother.  The house will stay in the possession of the four siblings.  The middle brother would be the executor of funds and have the financial account in his name since he had Power of Attorney and two siblings live outside the country.  The youngest brother shall stay in the house while at least one parent is alive.  He shall manage the household and ask funds from the executor of funds.  He shall make initial decisions and consult the middle brother for more complicated ones or for those he prefers not to be responsible for.  One or both can contact Lynn anytime.  All three can be consulted as needed.  Final decisions on property disposition have to be agreed upon by all of the siblings.  Their mother had previously indicated to Lynn that she wanted her property sold.  This would be more difficult.  No one has been there except Lynn when she was about four to five years old.  The youngest brother was assigned to go and check its condition if possible.  It is within HUK insurgents’ territory unofficially of course.  Their mother will progressively need more intensive care.  In the meantime, the family has to make sure that she does not stray too far and get injured.  The family renting the upper floor has been causing a lot of her distress.  It may not necessarily be the renters’ fault but it would unfortunately help for them to move out.  The youngest brother was instrumental in getting them there.  One of the members was a friend.  Hoprefully he would understand.  The youngest brother was assigned the task of telling them.  Lynn made a diagnosis of Alsheimer’s Disease.  It was a shock to everyone.  It was not a happy day.

     There were details to be ironed out.  Computations and final assignment of responsibilities still had to be confirmed and accepted.  It was dinner time.  Another session will follow the next day.

     The oldest and youngest aunts arrived in her cousin’s car.  The youngest aunt objected to the youngest brother being in charge of the entire account but would agree with him managing the portion budgeted for the monthly home and health care expenses.  The middle aunt arrived later.  She was worried about him deserting their parents again.  The oldest aunt was worried about burial assignments in the family plot.

      “You can take me off the list.”  Lynn offered. 

     Her cousin was troubled about the presence of Moro squatters in her father’s land and surrounding plots.  The oldest of her brothers was debating whether to get all their father’s stocks out or leaving them in place to allow growth.  It would also be difficult for them to get it while he is still actually alive.  Fortunately, he, his wife and their cousin all worked in the same corporation in the past and still were known to key personnel in the business office.  Then the question was where to transfer it.  The middle aunt’s husband worked for a bank.  Their aunt already had a suggestion.  Writing all the numbers and summary of finances would have been difficult for Lynn who has not done it yet for her own business.  Fortunately again, there were three experts in the group.  The oldest aunt listened carefully.  She is the one who could estimate totals by simply scanning the numbers on a spreadsheet.  As default president of the board, Lynn signed all the papers.  There was no legal advice.  The family lawyer was indisposed.

     Their cousin made an estimate of how much their father’s land was worth.  He had farms inherited from his father and managing them himself.  The biggest problem was whether or not their father’s lands would be vacated by the squatters and be sold at all.  Their presence in their hometown was a potentially explosive situation.  The middle brother and the youngest aunt will take care of the most difficult parts … negotiating a sale and convincing the Muslims to leave.  They arrived and occupied several properties in the area claiming them to be rightfully theirs by virtue of ancestral rights.  No one believes that to be true but convincing the Muslim called Moros because of their fierce nature can endanger peace in their hometown if not the whole country.

     They decided to take a break and survey the damage done by Mt. Pinatubo four years earlier.  Her aunts and cousin did not go with them.  The middle brother arranged the trip and transportation but did not accompany them.  He sent his personal driver as guide, protector and passport to ‘Off Limits’ areas.  It was not possible to go to the volcano itself.  A helicopter trip was denied.

     “There it is.”  The driver pointed.

    “Thanks.”  Lynn said dryly.  They were too far.  He was just indicating the rough location of the source of all the change in scenery before them.  Everything was a blurr to her anyhow.

     They were outside the closed Clark Air Base.  No one was allowed inside.  The most they could do was drive around or walk where the ground was stable.  It was odd to see a tropical country location covered with what looked like snow.  The absence of trees with or without leaves did not fit a winter wonderland either.  The mountains were too low.  The houses were literally buried under the white ‘lahar’.  It was far from being frozen.  It was warm.  Some homes had rooftops exposed.  A few had more portions protruding from the layer of ash.  Some owners managed to dig out enough to expose windows and doors.  A very ingenius owner elevated his entire home on stilts as was the style during the olden days.  It was a small home supported by four posts with enough room below the original floor to leave open for a future flow of lava or as in the past, enclose for other domestic uses.  Needless to say, only a few were able to move back home.  Surprisingly, all houses remained upright with Architectural features intact.  Pinatubo simply extended a giant hand to pour volcanic milk flakes all over the landscape which then was transformed into an eerie looking cake with thick white frosting.

     The former Subic Bay Air Base was almost normal.  It was In the process of being turned into a resort area.  The airport shall be operational soon.  It was not possible to get too close to the buildings.  All the ‘lahar’ and volcanic and storm related debris have been cleared.  The buildings appeared to be in good shape.  Grass was starting to grow.  It was wonderful to see grass were the ground has been previously scorched or baked.  It was a shock to behold sparsely distributed sick looking Yellow blades.  They were unable to get close enough to answer a burning question.

     “Do they feel like grass or cellophane?”

     For fifty years after World War II, the Philippines hosted the two American installations.  It was a continuous national dilemma.  Some people wanted to keep them in the country.  Others opposed.  With changing leaders and political affiliations, the issue never got close to resolution.  They did play a major role during wars in South East Asia.  Though Guam also played a vital part in transport of troops, supplies, ammunition, it was still farther away.  An hour or so delay in transport of the wounded, in particular, made a lot of difference.  The income afforded local citizens was tremendous.  The exposure to more advanced technology was priceless.  Finally, Mother Nature stopped the argument that political candidates used for campaigns.  She blew her top.  In the process, she also scattered ashes and gases around the world effectively providing a global umbrella that delayed global warming for ten precious years as well as enhance the beauty of sunset for more areas than Manila Bay.

     The driver suggested that they visit the Import Export Shop.  Before the US pulled out, this was a busy hub.  The Jungle Survival Center was still there.  They browsed through the display area and decided to go on the short Survival Skills Demonstration tour.  Natives would show ancient skills still being used in the wild. 

     “Have you been Girl Scouts?”  The guide asked Lynn and her sister-in-law.

     “No.”

     “This is the same thing you would have learned.  Join that group over there.”  He said pointing to a cluster of people surrounding Dala!

     “What are you doing here?”  Lynn asked.

     “ … brushing up on old stuff!”  She grinned.  “They were short of helpers so I volunteered.  I’ll show you what to do if for some reason you find yourself stranded in a jungle.  Of course, not all jungles are alike.  This one is safe … no tigers, lions, bears, elephants, rhinos.  We have small creatures like monkeys, birds, tamaraws and snakes.”

     Everyone started inspecting the ground they were standing on.  Dala laughed.

     “There are less harmful ones like insects, fish, rabbits, pigs  and strange four legged animals you never saw before.  They can be friends until you get hungry enough.  In the meantime, if you simply observe them, they will lead you to their secret water holes.  Then, you will need a container or ladle.  Banana leaves are great for rolling and folding into different things.  Long leaves from this plant here can be woven into things.  Different types can be handy if you need dry clothes in a hurry.  This vein of a long leaf can be used as a string to weave in and out of these and make a waistband to fasten around you.”

     “…Adam and Eve style!”

     “They started with less.”  Someone remarked.

     Then Dala showed them how to identify sections of bamboo that contained water to drink or use for cooking.  Then she started a fire using dry wood and a stick rubbed together and using dry leaves for kindling.  The bamboo section she had drank from was set precariously on three stones forming a tripod around the new fire.  Rice and freshly caught crawlers can then be cooked in the new cooking vessel.  She handed out previously made tumblers, soons and forks made of bamboo and other types of carved wood.

     “There are more of those in the Souvenir Shop.”  She announced.

     Then she walked back with the group to show more interesting items for sale. 

     “It has began!”  She told Lynn.

     “What?”

     “… the twenty seven years.  Keep your ears open.  Your turn comes next.”

     “Why me?  It is more critical for you to do it.”

     “The opportunity is in America.  The women there are insisting on it.  It will not happen here.”

     There was a flurry of things to settle in the Philippines and contracts to make to get her office ready.  Her two brothers will take care of their parents and keep her and the oldest of the brothers informed of events both good and bad.  Contracts for various services had to be made.  Insurance coverage for things she never thought had to be secured.  Safety and fire codes had to be followed.  Security, telecommunications, additional lighting, appropriate signs, diagrams to indicate exit paths, smoke alarms, electric outlet covers and warning devices had to be installed.  A handicap accessible entry had to be in place.  The bathroom had to comply with handicap guidelines.  She had to display OSHA guidelines and various certificates.  A handicap parking space had to be designated and marked with th appropriate sign.  Sharps, contaminated waste disposal and pick up mechanisms have to be in place.  Office furniture had to be procured.  Doors have to be three feet wide and with unlocking capability from the outside to rescue trapped small children or patients who fainted or got injured.  There were more.  Getting the supplies needed to examine the patients was easier.  At least, she knew what she needed.  There were less hidden surprises.  Of all these including rent, Malpractice Insurance was the biggest cost.  The insurance company kept her premium still slightly higher than that required in General Medicine.  Her OB-GYN specialty shall forever haunt her even if she does not take care of Obstetrical cases except for diagnosis and urgent interim management of problems patients who present with abnormalities prior to being seen by an Obstetrician.  Getting approved to be a provider for different reimbursement plans was another ‘Tower of Babel’ to climb or topple.  Advertizing was another drain to the capital.  It was essential enough to be more generous in allocating available funds.  She asked about having a website.  Grand idea!  Grander price!!!  Very few even knew how to create one.  Software were either unavailable or too complicated to use.  Of course they were also beyond a beginner’s budget.

  This was not her original plan.  She was at the point of limiting driving and soon hope to stop completely.  She had different scenarios in mind as to how to continue her practice, have a secondary business to fall on when practice was no longer possible, and live in the same complex.  The cost would require winning the lottery which did not happen.  She tried to talk friends into joining her except for living with her.  They were enthusiastic and volunteered to help.  They would all give their time to help her see patients.  No one was doing the other things.  Medical people just have a very constricted view of what running a practice entails.  In the usual practice, after the Medical Malpractice insurance premium, the biggest cost was payroll.  A huge portion of the paperwork is payroll, time sheets, tax and benefits related forms, schedule, and list of sources for Girls Friday.

     Aside from payroll, benefits can erase a major portion of the profit.  In addition, requirements by different agencies needed for protection of employees are not only costly but also difficult to meet.  She decided to work alone and at a small scale.

     Trying to exist in one location was not that easy either.  She at first was told by someone at the City Planning and Zoning Office that she may turn their home into such a facility.  He decanted the statement later.  The next was to build the home and business at the border of both zones with the appropriate sections in the proper areas.  That did not fly.  Then she tried finding two lots situated similarly but have two separate buildings side by side or back to back also in appropriate zones.   She can rent, buy or build. There was no such location.  She even asked friends and WOWI members to look in their respective cities or towns.  They were not able to find a suitable place..

     Finally, she rented the office space a short drive away from home.  It was on the same street as her eye doctors’ office.  At least she can walk for her check up.  Another problem was how to go to church.  That was a longer drive and more difficult when the winter visitors double the population of the town.  Taking a cab was a big pain in the whatever.  There was only one company in town.  At least there finally was one.  Calling for a ride was the most unsure venture.  Repeated calls were necessary.  The result was often being late for mass even with an early attempt.  By the time Lynn arrived in church, she often was not fit to be in the presence of God let alone receive Holy Communion. 

     The first area she studied for a possible practice location was within walking distance of the Catholic Church.  It was a disappointment.  Friends were mostly non-Catholics and the few that are seemed to disappear on the same weekends for some reason.  Occasionally a non-Catholic WOWI member picked her up and drove herthere but her church related schedule  was such that she could not pick her up after mass.  Worse than not being able to get to the church was being stranded there.  A daughter of another WOWI member and some patients were available occasionally but were always late.  Lynn was not happy with being late for anything especially mass.  She thought of inviting a priest to say mass in their family room.  That would be difficult to explain because she cannot reveal her secret while still in practice.  It would help if she had disabled Catholic neighbors in need of the service.  There was no Catholic near them.

     The bank manager and his top assistant showed up on Open House Day.  He looked around to see what he termed ‘beyond the front desk’ view.  Usually he went from there to the examining room and perhaps the bathroom if a specimen were needed and back to the front desk to settle a bill and set up a return appointment.  He was curious to know what was in the supply room, record room and lab.  It was a very short tour. 

     Beyond the small front room and double doors was a single room that served as all the different ones he wanted to see except the supply room.  The closet had all the supplies.  The lab was the sink area in the North East corner behind a divider shelf.  The exam room was at the North West corner effectively discouraging entry into the closet door beside it.  A Mayo Stand in that space pushed against the North wall served as a reminder that this was the procedure area. Two bookshelves side by side, one facing South and the other North hid the area as well as held important gadgets and supplies.  The backs served as bulletin boards.  The book shelves and divider demarcate the more private areas from the more open multipurpose room.  A carved round pedestal table with an inlaid glass covered top and matching ‘lazy susan’  plus chairs dominated the view just in front of the two bookshelves.  This is where the patient and important others sit and talk with Lynn and have vital signs and other information obtained and recorded.  A bookcase stood at the corner just  North of the front room.  This had a fax phone on one of the shelves and various forms on the others.  The bottom shelves were concealed by doors.  These had contracts and other documents.  A drop leaf desk just above them had various small accessories and gadgets. Obliquely across is the Medical Records Area with two low metal filing cabinets side by side against the divider and serving as a surface to hold a personal copier.  A huge metal desk occupied the remaining corner just North East of the double doors.  This obviously was the paperwork area.  A Desktop computer set, a phone and tiers of forms and papers and other paraphernalia are on it.  A Food Pyramid chart was on the wall close to the divider. 

     In the front room were folding chairs in the North East corner.  There were pictures in a large multiwindow mat serving as a frame showing Lynn in different WOWI related functions.  Against the wall in the front room in front of the South East window overlooking the common lobby was a multilevel computer desk that held forms for patients to fill out while waiting to be examined.  There was an appointment book for them to write on also.  There were more folding chairs for the patients and others.  On the East wall were different certificates and a shortened list of Lynn’s previous professional activites.  On the South West corner was a velvet arm chair.  A long coffee table stretched along the West wall.  There was a TV for VCR only, Medical journals and informative fliers made by Lynn.  The other velvet chair was against the Northwest wall.  There were more informative charts on the wall above it.

     “This looks like home.”  One of the nurses she worked with at the Health Department said.

     “I brought the furniture from home.  The only things bought recently are the desk, examining table, stool and Mayo stand.”

     “I thought things looked familiar.”  She laughed.  “I see that you finally revealed all the years of experience you had.”

     “No.  Only those since I arrived in the County.  I do not want anyone to guess my age.”

     “You blew it.”

     “I did?”

     “Look!  This says Junior Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  That was before you arrived and the year is right there.”

     “Let me have your pen.”  Lynn said underlining the word ‘Junior’.  “Maybe they would think I was in Junior Hi at the time.”

     “ … Oh yeah?  You expect them to think you went through High School, college and Medical degree plus training in six years after that?”

     “No.  I just won’t explain details in between.  Some will know better but I won’t verify anything.”

     “Was that when you were driving this car?”  Someone asked.

     “What car?”  It was an antique car that was getting prepared for the Annual  Indian Days Parade.  It was not her car nor was she of the same vintage.  “No!”

     “I think you will do well here.”  The banker said.

     The lady from the Contaminated Waste Pick Up Service brought a large plant and set it on the coffee table.

     “Is that real?”  Lynn asked.

     “Yes.  You have to water it.”

     A former co-worker at the Indian Hospital brought a smaller plant and set it on the upper shelf of the computer desk.

     Lynn was installed for the third time as President of the local WOWI club the following week.  The first official board meeting of the fiscal year was the month after that.  It was held in their home.  The phone rang during the meeting.  Her husband answered and then walked into the room with the receiver of the cordless phone.  Their older daughter was on the other end of the line.

     “I’m fine.”  She said.  “We’re all OK.  We expected it.  Everything was ready beforehand.  Uncle Nix is in charge.”

     Lynn’s father passed away that morning.  Her daughter did not get Lynn’s message till then.  She has told everyone before her trip to the Philippines that she could only go once.  She thought it was more necessary to see her father while he was still alive plus it was imperative that they made all decisions and arrangements earlier than later.  That morning she thought things over again.  The brother in Canada was undecided.  He also said he was going only once and Lynn insisted that they be there for the family meeting.  He called earlier that day to confirm that he was staying put also.  Then he called again.  He changed his mind. He and his wife are going to attend the funeral service.

     The first official regular meeting of the club was held the following week.  Lynn presided.  She also has started seeing patients in her office right after opening day.  She did not cancel any appointment.  It was tough.  Her middle brother later sent pictures and copies of memorials written and delivered by two close friends.  There also was a personal note from the president of the Philippines.  Her father had a military funeral.  Her mother-in-law stood with her mother during the whole series of events.  Guests asked about her.  He told them that she decided to take care of things earlier and sneaked in and out of the country without letting them know.  It was not the usual party time as her other visits were.

     One of her first patients was the daughter of a long time aquaintance involved in the same circles they were in such as the local Red Cross, hospital auxiliary, local projects and gatherings.  She brought her infant son although she did not see him as a patient.  Her mother drove them to the office where they had short chats between phone calls.  One time Lynn asked the mother about what Lynn wrote about Teen Pregnancy.  She was going to present that to the WOWI members that evening to explain the need to help curb the problem.

     “I thought I was the only mother with the headache.” 

     “No.  There are a lot of others.  Did I cover everything?”  Lynn asked.

     “Yes.  I was surprised, though,  that the club is willing to take on this issue.” 

     Later, the grandmother came with her daughter-in-law.  The young woman just move in with her after separation from her husband.  She had no insurance and was looking for a job.  Both filled in new patient forms.  Lynn tried to figure out if she or they could find Boas in town.  The biblical Naomi and Ruth story amazed her.  Hearing a modern version floored her.

     A popular socialite friend came with vague symptoms that were not bad enough to slow down her very active life.  She looked amazing for someone who was around when Amelia Earhart first visited the town.  She listed her birthday as Tuesday.  Lynn had to consult her insurance cards to replace that on the form.  Lynn did an EKG and asked more clinical questions.  She has not been acutely ill recently.  Lynn knew she had to be in good shape the last two or more times she saw her elsewhere.  There were ST depressions on the tracing everywhere.  She recommended that she see the local Cardiologist and hurried to fill up a patient record form to copy and present to the consultant.  She arranged the appointment and faxed both the examination record and EKG tracing lest the patient tries to hide them.

     The patient danced out of the door reminding Lynn about the next scheduled big event in town.

     “See you there!”  The patient chirped.

     “Having a hard time?”  A retired nurse who volunteered to help asked as she walked in.

     “I think my brain is in a state of shock.”  Lynn replied and related what happened.

     “I don’t believe it!  Are you sure your machine is OK?”

     “We’ll know soon.  I just sent her to the heart specialist.  The first thing they would do is take their own tracing.”

     “Of course that would be the case if she actually goes there.”

     Lynn dialed the patient’s phone number.  The patient answered the phone.  She decided to stop for coffee because she did not get any in the office.  On her next visit, she would like cream and sugar in it.

     “Are you sure you want to stick to General Practice?”  The nurse chided Lynn.

     “There is no way I can continue OB-GYN at this point.”

     The various HMO plans as well as the older private health plans only pay for services rendered to patients covered by their plans.  They only pay those health care providers enrolled in their individual plans.  Providers have to apply for membership.  Plans prefer those with specialty certification.  That usually is next to the first few questions asked of applicants.  So Lynn had to write that she is board certified in OB-GYN and then explain that she would limit practice to General Medicine.  It was very confusing to some health plan management personnel.  Others understood the plight of specialists forced to shed their status because of sky rocketing liability insurance costs.  At the same time it triggered the fear of accepting someone who would not know how to deal with cases outside the range of diagnoses the providers had been self limited to for many years.  A few worried about those who would say they were going to generalize to lower malpractice insurance premiums but continue to practice their specialties anyhow.  Malpractice Insurance companies were worried more about the last group.  Lynn had to show proof of previous work in a General Medicine situation.  In addition, a year of recent training in Family Practice was required.  She presented proof of a year of residency in an approved program.  She was unable to proceed with more to qualify for board examinations and certification though.

     The following Cinco de Mayo, she had another ‘Open House’.  This was in their home to announce and celebrate the start of her secondary business.  She set up a boutique in what was the Family Room.  The City Planning and Zoning Department previously denied permission for the same thing but it was the Medical Office portion of the plan that was not consistent with rules.  The non-Medical business was allowed with certain restrictions.  Lynn agreed to all of them.  She can at least have the business to earn from should it be necessary to stop her Medical practice too soon.  No driving would be necessary.  She can continue this longer than the Medical practice. 

     Her middle brother and his family came for the ‘Open House’.  He videotaped her dance demonstrations.  His daughter, tried on some pieces of her costumes during changes in between numbers.  The videotape later showed her wearing one veil after another in the various ways she did during the performances.  The patient with abnormal EKG failed to show up.  She misunderstood the announcement and went to the office instead.  Her best friend was present.  She also looked good considering that her brother was among those who watched Amelia Earhart’s plane the night she was in town.  One of the boys with him received an autographed portion of the handkerchief that she used to repair the damaged skin of her plane with.  One of the friends that occasionally took Lynn to and from the church was also there. The wife of another doctor was among the guests.  She was also a patient.  A couple of Filipino nurses managed to find the time to come.  Her two nephews were more interested in the swimming pool.

     Internet service was finally offered by the computer shop that provided basic computer lessons earlier. By this time, Lynn had already signed up with the first company that started the service in town.  She still was without a website.  Then finally, she found an advertisement for a very affordable software.  She ordered it.  It was in Basic HTML!  It may have as well been in Greek.  Then she realized that it used English words and standard typewriter symbols to enter commands to insert characters in the correct places and in the correct format.  She made her first web page.  She managed to make it that long!  The picture just did not materialize.  She found out later that she needed ‘Windows’ Operating System.  At least she had her page and she could edit it herself as frequently as needed.  Hooray!  Then she had to figure out what to call her web page to reflect all the activities and interest she would cover.  This was to advertize her business.  Which one?  How would she insert other topics such as peace and women’s issues?  Will viewers get unglued at the sight of Nostradamus’ predictions somewhere?  So ‘Lady MD’s Exercise, Health and Peace Page’ was born.  The WOWI Club’s interests and occasional messages appeared in the ‘Peace’ section.  Predictions by Nostradamus and others were also there.  So were important world events.  This was in 1996.

     There was a storm the following year.  Rain water managed to seep around the window frames damaging her double deck Videotape copier.  Her laptop computer was fortunately closed at the time and survived.  The Department of Agriculture office also had worse damages.  A computer was drenched by rain coming through the air ducts.  Important papers were soaked.  So was the rug in that area.

     “This has never happened before.”  The occupants of the office said.  “It may be the first of a series.” 

     They decided to move.  Lynn was just waiting for this to happen.  The space was bigger in that suite and it had three separate rooms plus a large and a small closet.  The large closet can be her personal ‘break’ room.  She just had to make sure that important equipment do not get placed in the rain zones in her two suites.  The Medical office was moved across the lobby.  The original office space was renovated to be her boutique.  The sink had to be moved from the old office to the new one.  She took the opportunity to ask the landlord to install handle bars in the shared bathroom.  He changed the carpets in the new office.  Lynn replaced the flooring in the would be boutique with non slip tiles.  The rent in the bigger suite was no more than that for the smaller one because she was renting two spaces.  Of course she knew better.

     During the preparation to occupy the boutique section,  Lynn fell from a ledge she was precariously balancing on to fix the angle of a surveillance camera.  She was dropping head first on the hard floor with nothing to stop the fall.  Rather than risk a skull fracture she did the forbidden move.  She extended her arms.  The left hand hit first reducing the impact on the right side of her forhead as it hit the floor.  She remained conscious and so started to get up.  She felt dizzy and faint.  There was no one in the building to help.  It was Sunday morning after mass and before opening the Medical office for the day.  The occupants of the third suite did not work on weekends.  One or two of them sometimes sneaked in to do paperwork but no one did this time.  She had to call for help.  The phone was in the opposite end of the room.  She tried again to get up, paused a while and slowly walked to the phone.  The 911 operator wanted to know if the door was open.  No, both the suite and lobby doors were locked.  She would try to open them.  The rescuers have her permission to get in by whatever means they can.  She walked slowly to the suite door and unlocked it.  Then proceeded to the lobby door and did the same.  Then she decided to simply lie on the floor beside the door so they cannot miss her.

     The paramedics showed up quickly and did the usual survey.

     “Is your blood pressure usually up?”  One of them asked.

     “At least she was not in shock.”  Lynn thought.  They splinted her left wrist and arm and took her by stretcher towards a fire truck.

     “Oh no!  I get into that?”

     “No the ambulance is behind it.”

     They rolled her into the ER and into a treatment room.  After the usual questions, signatures, vital signs, etc., one of her husband’s previous partners in this very same ER entered the room grinning broadly.  She could have ran away if it were not for the safety strap and the side bars of the examination table.  

     X-Rays confirmed fracture of the left Radius.  The wrist and forearm were stabilized with ‘thongs’ made of cast material.  She saw an Orthopedic Surgeon later and was scheduled for internal reduction and fixation with external pins stabilized with a frame that reminded her of a metal bridge.  She was not allowed to drive or use the left hand.  There was a tiny piece of bone lodged between the two major pieces.  The fracture was not simple.  It was a hard fall.  The large watch she was wearing at the time was later found on the other side of the room.  The band was elsewhere.  So were the pins used to attach the band to the watch.  One of the notches had avulsion of part of the rim due to the sudden stretching of the all metal band at the time of impact.  It could not be repaired.  Repeat fracture of the site may also be difficult to repair.  The surgeon said Lynn has to see someone else if she breaks the wrist again.  There was no guaranty that pain would be absent after healing specially after a repeat injury and more difficult repair. Thomas Jefferson was never able to play the violin again after his experience also with the left wrist.

     The worst problem with a solo practice is not having a partner to take over the work when needed.  Lynn lost a few days of work and on return had to limit activities to those that can be performed with one hand.  Even writing was difficult without the other hand to steady the paper.  Pelvic exams and Pap Smears were definitely not even scheduled.  Weeks later, the younger of the two cleaning ladies requested to have her IUD removed.  Lynn explained the difficulty involved in such a procedure.  Visualization of the string is needed.  If not, palpation to guide the tip of the forceps would be the alternative.  She had to have it removed.  She waited as long as she could and she could not go to someone else soon enough.  She also lost her insurance coverage.  She was willing to have Lynn try at least and wait longer if the attempt does not work.  Fortunately, it did.

     There was drainage from one of the pin insertion sites.  She took antibiotics.  The left hand was duskier and slightly cooler than the right.  The fingers continued to maintain strength and sensation.  Finally, the pins were removed.  The left wrist was stiff.  So were the fingers.  Pulses remained good.  Lynn went for Physical Therapy evaluation and exercise lessons.  She went for a follow up visit just to see if there was improvement and to check if she was doing the excercises correctly. 

     “Are there other exercise or manipulation techniques you would suggest?”  She asked the therapist.

     “No, but all movements extending the range of motion all directions would help.  Do those that involve the stiffer muscles more often.”

     Then she had a hot wax treatment.  A higher pool water temperature may help.

     “It is a good thing I decided not to stay in OB-GYN.”  Lynn said,  “I use my left hand for pelvic exams and tying knots.”

     Lynn resorted to her favorite exercise … ‘belly dancing’.  Hand movements were her best assets.  Body motion was what others watched more.  She moved her left wrist and fingers by themselves no matter what the right hand was doing or resting from. During breaks, she manually twisted and bent the left wrist and fingers as far as possible backwards and sideways.  When in the pool, she held on to the brim and hanged straight down in the water or extended her body on the surface while doing exercises with her legs.  The downward pull by her body’s weight seemed to loosen strands of scar tissue within the wrist.  She kept massaging the scar on her hand where one of the pins was inserted.  The placement of the pins was done under direct visualization to avoid injury to blood vessels nearby.  The incision scar pulled the tissues all the way to the bone.  After several months, the inner scars loosened and the dent on her wrist went away.

     After all this, Lynn decided not to adjust the camera angle regardless of limitation of view.  The next time she showed up for her follow up examination as a Women’s Health Initiative volunteer, she had some story to tell to explain the reason for the fracture.  It was not secondary to Osteoporosis.  The fall was not due to dizziness or lack of balance.  Her Bone Density MRI was not getting worse.  Standing on a ladder was one of the excusable reasons for a fall according to the questionnaire.  The ledge was worse than a ladder.  Of course, being up there was not a part of sports activity either.  Her sister-in-law broke an elbow while roller skating.  During all this time she realized what it would be like to stop driving completely.  She definitely needed a home within walking distance of her workplace and similarly close to a church.  She was where she started and had no change in luck.

     Her husband discovered a new housing development a block away.  The builder promised to construct the homes according to prospective owners’ desires.  He had the challenge of his career.  A builder Lynn previously contacted refused to follow her plans.  She wanted an indoor pool.  It was not allowed within the city limits.  The development owner at least promised to work out compromises with the City Housing and the City Planning and Zoning offices.  She was asked for a medical reason for such a feature in her home.  She came up with a list.  The real and unlisted one was that she had increasing trouble getting back into the house from the pool way to the back edge of their fairly large yard at night after work.  She was at constant danger of tripping on something and falling. The other was that she was worried about kids managing to enter the yard and falling into the pool.  Their neighbor’s home has been broken  into a few times in the past.  Someone actually scaled the fence of their home one time.  The last thing she wanted to experience was confronting a robber dead or alive in the pool when she would be embarking on relaxation after a hard day’s work.  She modified the original plan of the house to accommodate a large enclosed porch across the width of the end of the structure.  The children’s size pool shall be shallow enough for her to stand in even at the deep end.  It shall be heated and there shall be handlebars along each side of the steps.  It would run through the middle of the room in the same axis and surrounded by adequate walking space all around.  There would be a lot of ventilation through three doors and three windows all with security barriers.  The glass doors and windows shall remain open all the time except when warming the room before and during swimming.  In addition, doors leading into the master bedroom and into the living room shall have extra sets of door knobs and locks to prevent young guests from slipping into the pool area without the aid of an adult.  Obviously, no diving shall be allowed.  Construction materials for walls and ceilings have to be waterproof.

     The lots in the development were small and so were the homes and the individual rooms.  She had to make more modifications to allow her furniture to fit.  The doors and hallways had to be widened to three feet to accommodate wheel chairs and rescue stretchers.  Each bedroom had to have access to an exit to the outside.  The floors have to be at the same level to avoid falling or stepping down to an unexpectedly lower area.  The builder planned a slanting walkway and garage and forgot to tell them.  He presumed they knew that such a feature was part of a handicap setting.  The master bathroom had a shower with no water flow barrier at the door.  The floor gradually sloped down to the drain at the center.  There were handlebars in the shower as well as in the bathtub in the guests’ bathroom.  The bedrooms had to be widened slightly.

     “This is my trailer.”  Lynn laughed.  “We do not have to downsize when we retire.”

     The owner of the nearby lot did not wish to sell part of his property.  The builder was all set to knock down an opening for a gate behind the home leading to the adjacent lot.  Lynn decided to proceed with the construction anyhow.  In the future, she may still find priests to come to the boutique to say mass on a Saturday or Sunday every week.  That would eliminate driving.  Patients and some nearby residents may be interested in attending services there.  She just has to make the plan well known.  It would be less crowded here than in the old downtown.  As soon as the City gives the approval to build, construction can get going.  Rules, laws, policies, biases, misconceptions were difficult to overcome.  Her husband also worried about how to sell the home later.  There may not be others needing this not so usual structure.  It was really similar to the original floor plan Lynn drew herself when she started thinking of a combined hotel, motel or Bed and Breakfast facility reduced in size at least a hundred times. 

     Construction started the following year.  Lynn also heard of a home mini residency course leading to certigication in the new specialty of General Practice.

     “Are you kidding?”  She asked.

     “No.”  One of the non Board Certified General Practitioners in the area said

  .  “You see, with HMO’s dominating the current trend in practice,  a lot of doctors had to go through all sorts of ways to prove they are GP’s.  The high malpractice insurance premiums are driving specialists to General Practice but they still have to pay high premiums after giving up Surgery, deliveries, Neuro, Ortho, Anesthesia and so on.  The non-specialists need to be board certified in something to be accepted as an HMO provider.  We cannot leave our practice for a year or more like you did.  Regular residencies take at least three years.  Our families will starve and our practices will be gone when we decide to re-start.  As you know, restarting is far from easy.  For a lot of us, it is not possible.  We should not have elected this president.”

     “He also promised not to cut down the funding for Indian Health Service and Veterans.  He was wise enough not to do that to the Vets.  He cut IHS off almost instantly.  Federal government health care facilities had large cuts too.”

     “The Native Americans should have known better.  They have gone through a long string of broken promises throughout history.”

     “ … Apparently not.  I saw a sign at the front door of the Indian Hospital before elections.  Guess whose name was on it.”

     The same president worried about Y2K.  Computers and softwares were not equipped to interpret dates with four digits for years.  The last two digits for the year 2000 would be ‘00’ which would read as year 1900.  This will cause a lot of confusion and non-recognition of items to be executed in the actual coming year 2000.  Communications, transportation, hospital, military programs for January 1, 2000 and thereafter will all be affected.  There can be a widespread collapse of operating systems.  All computers had to be reset.  New software had to be programmed, sold, bought and functional before that date.  Medical billing software had to be replaced a lot earlier.  Medicare’s parent management company distributed free software to all willing to switch to electronic billing prior to the proposed changes.  They had to be replaced free of charge.  Fine!  That was not the last time.  Updates were distributed to adjust to more recent proposals at least twice.  Then computers had to be upgraded to run the new version.  Then, computers had to be changed to a newer version because the old Operating System could not handle the most recent changes.  The software was no longer free nor available from the parent management company.  Private software companies had a heyday.  One bonus for Lynn was that the computer upgrade enabled her to upload pictures on her webpage by herself. She needed the help of experts earlier.  It was beyond her budget to do so.  She decided to wait.  She started including more information about the relationship between climate, religious differences, socio-economic problems and war on her website.  She made copies of some pages and arranged them on tables inside her office as well as the common lobby in the building.  All her mail included such a page or two.  The mailing envelope displayed her webpage address and a line saying ‘Pray for World Peace.  Her husband cautioned her about others worrying about her sanity.  No one complained.  Some asked questions about the subject matter.  The majority ignored the extra papers to look at.  Read?  Of course not!  She started an e-group online but hackers took the opportunity to insert their advertisements instead of questions and comments.  She removed their option to enter comments.

     The new house was built and they moved in.  A WOWI Club summer meeting was held in the kichen-dining area.  In her previous floor plan for a hotel, this was the board room.  The mini version in the home was too cozy but functioned adequately.  This was the brightest part of the house, had a large table, space for chairs, and had the food readily available.

     “Having the coffee  and punch right here is the best part.”  One of the members said.

     “I like having the sink, fridge and microwave here.  Of course, having the stove and toaster within reach is also great.”

     “The best part is having the fax/message-phone, computer and TV/VCR on hand.”  The new president added.  “Would you kindly turn off the timer?”

     “I like the big clock on the wall.”  The Recording Secretary announced.  “I saw a videocamera on a tripod in the living room.  May we get it in here so I won’t have to worry about missing a thing?”

     “I hope you do not plan to simply play the tape instead of reading the minutes next month.” 

     The middle brother called with another bad news.  Her mother fell in the bathroom.  She suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.  She was hospitalized and remained unconscious. One day, Lynn arrived home and was surprised to be greeted by one paw on each shoulder.  The neighbor’s dog apparently was accidentally trapped in the house when she left for work that morning.  She saw the other dog leave as she closed the door behind her and did not notice that it was alone. 

     “You were here all day?”  She was amazed.  There was no mess and the alarm did not ring.  It apparently stayed quietly in a corner.

     “They are used to staying home alone in the house when we are gone.”  The owner explained later.

     That night, Lynn’s youngest brother called.   Their mother woke up and started talking in two different languages yet.  She also was  not agitated anymore.  Nay, she was friendly and cheerful and happy to see the doctors and nurses.  The brain scan was ‘clear’.  They used to have a black dog like the one she accidentally trapped in the house.  When they were still in the last camp, a black puppy, a chick and a kid gost followed her youngest brother around the house.  The baby animals slept together,  They made up a strange flock.

     She enrolled in the home study residency program and registered for the meeting to discuss requirements for board certification in General Practice.  Her middle brother was in the USA that month.  He and his wife met Lynn and her husband at the hotel where the conference was held.  It was her brother’s birthday.  They went to a local Chinese restaurant.

     “ … Good News!”  Her husband announced.  “Her driving is now limited to ‘Church only’.”

     “ … Bad news!”  Lynn added.  “I have to go through another residency.”

     “I never thought it would be needed to do that to discard what you worked so hard for earlier.”

     The one before this dropped my malpractice pemium.  This one would officially allow me to list myself as a certified specialist in General Practice so the HMO’s do not assign me pregnant patients andcausing my malpractice insurance premium to sky rocket again.”

     Lynn made another trip to the Philippines the beginning of 1999 before she got tied up in studies and proving her qualification to take the board examination.  She was pleasantly surprised to see her mother really happy and not worried about people’s behavior.  She was a lot easier to care for and healthier.  The brain hemorrhage must have destroyed the area causing her to be so restless, angry and suspicious of others.  Whatever ruptured and bled was never identified but it was a blessing.  Of course it did not bring back her memory either.

     Lynn, the oldest and youngest brother, two sisters-in-law and one niece planned a trip to Corregidor Island while waiting for bank transactions to get approved.  She has been there as a child but does not recall much except for the ride aboard a ship across Manila Bay.  Only the middle brother had knowledge of the facility but from the military view.  Lynn was interested in the layout of the tunnels, size, possible comfort and functions the facility was used for.  It survived.  Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur and Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon and family stayed there.  It was the last stand of the Filipinos during World War II until captured by the Japanese.  It was well planned and ironically used concrete imported from Japan for fortification.  Unfortunately, the guns were fixed to face the direction opposite where the Japanese approached.  It housed different departments including, quarters, chapel, hospital and barracks.  The Japanese used it themselves after overpowering the local defense.  Then Bataan surrendered and the infamous Death March began.  Her father’s best friend since first grade and later an extended family relative by marriage to her father’s cousin was one of the survivors.

     She missed the chance to take the opportunity to challenge the General Practice Specialty Board by oral examination.  The event came and went without too much publicity and was held while she was out of the country.  Her non-certified GP friend heard about it but was unable to assemble all the paperwork required and was not qualified anyhow because he started the application process for the home residency program late and has not gone through the different stages of preliminary training.  Lynn quickly sent her application for the next examination.  It was accepted.  She excitedly told her friend that they would be taking the oral boards together.  It was scheduled for May 1999.

     “I can’t finish reading everything by then.”  He protested.

     “Try anyhow.  This is probably the last challenge.  They are just getting us interested.  When they have enough, they will tighten up the requirements.”

     “They also said that those who become members of the College within  the first year shall have lifetime membership.  I suppose I should risk it.”  He agreed.

     Lynn notified the oldest of the brothers that she would be in Seattle for the exam.  He had previously announced the upcoming graduation of his older son from High School almost the same date.  They agreed to meet there and celebrate.  His entire family will cross the Vancouver-Seattle border for the double occasion.  Lynn, the GP friend and his wife took the same flight to Seattle and stayed in the hotel where the examinations would take place.  They brought notes, books and audio-cassette tapes to review till the last minute.  The whole process would take two days.  Each candidate shall be questioned individually by different experts in their individual certifications.  They can ask anything about everything in the field of Medicine.  There would be pictures, graphs, X Rays and so forth to look at.  Lynn hoped the light would be good and markings large enough for her to see.  If not, she will not make it.

     The hotel room was dark except for the bathroom area.  She called her brother at their hotel.  Fortunately, they arrived early.

     “Bring several 100 watt light bulbs.”  She requested.

     She started pulling all the lamps towards the writing desk near the bed and left a sign for the cleaning person to not return them to their original locations.  She added that she was reviewing for a very important test.

     Her brother arrived with the entire family and changed the bulbs. 

     “That’s a lot better.”  She said happily.  “Now, let’s find the exam room.”

     They found it and retraced their steps back to Lynn’s room.  She memorized each turn and change in floors.  The younger nephew figured out a way to find the elevator buttons in dim light by bumping into the trash and the cigarette stump receptacle. The ‘UP’ and ‘Down’ buttons are directly above them.  The elevator doors are located on both sides.  She was all set for the following day.  They went to church for mass and found a Chinese restaurant to celebrate her nephew’s graduation and hopefully her successful oral board examinations. 

     She had an early breakfast the following morning, went back to her room for last minute preparations and confidently went through the maize in her mental map.  There was a change in room assignment for the examination.  The room they located the previous day had a sign at the entrance announcing a different event.  She always had trouble trying to set up admittance to a board examination.  It was usually due to technicality.  Now she had no trouble whatsoever qualifying and getting to the site but could not find the room!!!

     She went back to the lobby to hopefully get revised information.  She was handed a map.  The lady stated the suite name.  The site would be past the construction area and accessible the roundabout way.  After the third attempt, her GP friend bumped into her and he eventually found where they have to go for Part 1 rhrough 5 and then to a different location for the finals.  They have different schedules.  Lynn will go through the gauntlet earlier.  To be fair, they will be questioned by the same examiners.  The examinees shall move from one table to another.  The questions may not necessarily be the same. 

     Lynn went through the preliminaries and even managed to find the other suite.  It was not a total disaster.  She managed to read some new things in medical journals that some of the examiners asked about.  One was about a man with just a hint of possible stroke.  He decided to see her to be safe.  He was not.  The examiner asked what she would do.

     “What I would like to do would not be available or possible yet in the local hospital”  Lynn replied.

      “ … but you are at Mayo’s!”  The examiner objected.

     “Oh wow!”  She exclaimed.  “I would call the TPA Team or whatever it is called over there.”

     The examiner smiled happily.  It was so new, he really did not expect the correct answer at that time.  Since stroke was the number one killer in her family, the new development caught her attention.  She wished that someday a similar treatment would be available for self administration by a properly trained patient.

     The X-Rays were tough.  There was no view box or a slide projector.  The films had to be held up manually against the light coming from a window with a curtain about four feet away.  Fortunately, the examiner played a favorite trick professors in Medical School warned candidate for ‘Revalida’ about.  The ‘Revalida’ is an oral examination that can break even an A student ready to graduate with flying colors.  One horrible mistake and ‘Bingo’ becomes ‘Oops!’.  One of the favorite scenarios used was  the same one presented to Lynn for diagnosis and management.  A child fell and had an X-Ray taken.  

     “Read the film.”

     Lyn sqinted at the Radiograph.  She presumed that the examiner wanted her to determine the presence or absence of a fracture.  She did not see any.  Reading X Rays was not her cup of tea.  In the stories she heard from the old professors, the students usually bluffed and indicated the presence of a ‘hairline fracture’ which is easily missed.  The examiner showed a normal film and caught the bluff.  The almost a graduate student eventually received his diploma months later than his classmates did.  The examiner across the table was not Filipino but he could have heard of the story.  Lynn decided to do the questioning.

     “Was the child lifting objects with this extremety in the office?”

     “Yes.”

     They both laughed.

     With the next case, she had to be vague, meek and humble.  Without the fingers or toes in the same view, it was difficult for her to figure out which pair of long bones she was looking at.

     “There is a transverse, clean, complete fracture of that bone.”  She started.  “The segments are well aligned.  I would recommend immobilization by a cast.”

     She ended up admitting that she had trouble identifying bones when not shown with a contiguous part of the Anatomy.  She depended on the experts to read the X Rays she requested.  The examiner suggested that she visit the Radiology Deparment more often to familiarize herself with shadows of body parts.  She promised to do so.

     There was a written portion of the certifying examination.  It was a little tough.  She crossed her fingers and submitted her paper.

     Her GP friend compared notes with her later.  It was difficult to tell how she fared.  Hopefully he did well.  Much later they both received a notice that they made it.  The following year, new applicants could no longer challenge the board by oral examinations. 

     The media was dominated by Kosovo, Chechnya, Saddam Hussein, and the July 1999 Nostradamus’ predictions.  People were focusing on the comet which was the least important in the list.  There were guesses on when and where it or an asteroid from it would hit.  Estimates of damage were published and talked about.  Some went to Paris to view the possible appearance of ‘the King of Terror’ while the sky is darkened by the ‘gloomiest eclipse since the one right after the death of Jesus Christ on the cross’.  A modern day futurologist correctly emphasized the occurrence of severe climate changes.  He also said that the areas of the globe covered by the umbra of the eclipse shall be affected most and those under the penumbra next.  Such shadows corresponded with Europe and Asia.  Unfortunately, a narrow strip of the Eastern United States and Canada fell under the penumbra.  Turkey had a terrible earthquake close to the date of the eclipse.  Storms and all sorts of calamities occurred worldwide.  By 1999, the Red Cross declared that Global Warming is real and had started.  1999 was the worst year disaster wise.  The stories continued and progressively got worse.  The world expected the July 1999 to be a passing, short term event and end of the world or some other big disaster.  Earth survived.  Very little thought was paid to the entire picture painted by different sources.  The twenty seven year war by then has started.  The beginning and the end were not as clearly defined.  Comet Lee Hi was visible till Fall.  It did not cause physical damage.  A different one is supposed to sometime.  Lynn has been telling everyone beforehand that earth would survive.  No one believed her.  Unfortunately no one heard the other part of her statement.  We shall then experience all the terrible things foretold.  No wonder we are called ‘unbelievers’.  However, we are not ‘infidels’ either.  We simply are the most close minded people of all times.  The only shocking event was the tragic death of John Kennedy Jr.  Its significance was missed too.  This was an unexpected completion of one of the predictions.  Lynn added that to her webpage.

     The year turned to 2000 without a computer glitch in major institutions.  Others had to simply modify their paperwork and write all four digits instead of just the last two and cross out the first two digits in those where 19__ appeared.  Quebec had a power outage that lasted eight hours but that may have been more related to planetary electro magnetic phenomena than computers.  The majority of individuals were able to correct the date on their old existing machine and escaped the cost of a new one.  It was Pope John Paul II that took center stage.  He at least listened to well intentioned persons worldwide and changed his mind about starting his millennium tour in UR.  No one warned him about Syria.  The president’s words were not exactly those of a gracious host.  The visit went without incident.  The pope knew better than to respond to provocation.  He was visibly weak during his stay though.  He went to Mt.  Sinaii but did not follow Moses’ footsteps.  He included an apology for the Crusades.  The rest of the tour was great.  Too bad not everyone could go.  One thing was evident.  This leader had widespread acceptance and influence.  It was clear that he endeavored to make a trip no physician would allow a patient in the same shape to undertake.  The headstrong pope realized the urgency afoot.  The planet is in danger.  The people had a lot to do to deal with the situation.  Religious differences and widespread atrocities shall be the major factors that would ultimately lead to disaster.

     The mailman told her about a Catholic Church that just opened in the area.  Latin mass was celebrated there.  Lynn was happy, curious and very skeptical.  The one priest in the capital of the city who continued the old ritual was excommunicated.  He could have ran this way or some other priest was due to have the same fate sooner or later.  She found a listing in the phone book for a ‘New Independent Catholic Church America’.  This was most likely a break away sect refusing to follow all the rulings of the pope.  She drove in the area but was not able to find it.  She asked a realtor friend to help her.

     “I have to keep my eyes on the road all the time.  It is impossible to search for a certain address.”  Lynn complained.

     Her friend was well aware of her eye problem.  She drove straight to the building, gave Lynn a briefing on what the building was previously used for and then drove back and forth to Lynn’s house using different routes for Lynn to choose from.

     “It is going to be a difficult walk during summer and winter.”  She warned Lynn.

     “I have to try several times to see which way would be safest for me.”  Lynn replied.  “I can dress appropriately for the weather.”

     She practiced different routes to eliminate as much need to cross the street as possible.  She also picked the one with almost no need to get up and down sidewalks.  Missing the edge can mean a fracture or being run over by a passing vehicle.  Then she called the priest to ask vital questions.  The conversation also indicated to him what she was looking for.

     “Hello!  This is Dr. Gutierez.”  Lynn started.  “Just call me dr G.”  She finished in the same tone she did her on her most recent videotapes and messages on her telephone answering machines.

     “Gee! You sound just like the record on my phone.”  Fr. Patrik said.

     “This is the live one.  I have a few questions.  Someone already showed me where the church is.  I need to know more about you.”

     “OK.”

     “Can you trace your ordination to priesthood in an unbroken line all the way back to St. Peter?”

     “Yes.”

     “Good.  I wanted to make sure that I shall be attending real mass and receiving real Holy Communion over there.”

     “You are asking very important questions.”

     “Yes … critical ones.  I shall be there this Sunday.”

     “I shall see you then.”

     Fr. Patrik also recommended that she come on a Thursday for more questions and answers or stay after mass to do the same.  Lynn checked the Internet for more information about the origin, history, beliefs and other differences from the Roman Catholic Church.  She knew she would have to weigh a lot of pros and cons and may have to simply close her eyes and ears  over some issues.  Those would be secondary.  She focused on finding out if the priests in the New Independent Catholic Church were duly and properly ordained.  Tracing the record would be tough.  The most likely breach in transfer of power and authority from a Roman Catholic Bishop to a priest would be after the schism from the Roman Catholic fold.  Sure enough, there was a period of time when the NICC ran out of bishops to ordain new priests.  A Roman Catholic Bishop in Mesopotamia consecrated one for NICC.  There was no gap in the line of ordination of new priests by the new Bishop and transfer of power and authority to say mass and perform the sacraments continued to the present day.

     The reason for the schism was more problematic.  Some articles blamed the NICC’s support of immigrant members of an Eastern non-Christian  religious group as the reason.  Aside from believing in an ancient pagan deity, these persons also had somewhat extremely different practices frowned upon by very conservative Europeans.  They value life in all forms so they cover their mouths to prevent accidentally swallowing flying insects.  They walk with a broom to drive away rats and other small animals that may otherwise be stepped on.  Did they protest killing enemies during war?  They have self imposed hardships for making up for previous offenses  by staying naked in cold weather.  Doing this in Northern Europe during the Little Ice Age may have been more than unusual.  NICC denied any spiritual conversion in their efforts to help the group.  That was not totally accepted by the Vatican.

     It did not help that in place of the usual depictions of the ‘Stations of the Cross’ were absent in NICC churches.  Instead, there were symbols representing the ‘Seven Jewels’ of the cross.  Each jewel with its accompanying symbol was shown on a plaque.  The last six were arranged in a hex distribution  around the first one.  ‘Salem” was mentioned in one of the articles Lynn read.  Aside from the jewels on the  cross, ancient pagan, Egyptian-Mayan, Templar, Histological, and Astro-physical signs were on them. 

     The ‘First Jewel’ plaque is close to the center of the area where the altar is thus corresponding to where the priest stands to say mass.  It displays a diamond and a circle with a dot in the center.  It may be interpreted by Spiritualist on lookers as the representation of the Holy Trinity or God the Son according to 16^th century writings.  Others have a different view.  The outer circle is the cell wall representing God the Father.  The center dot is the nucleus representing God the Son.  The space between is the cytoplasm or God the Holy Spirit.  To Biologists, it is the cell or unit structure of life forms.  To modern Astronomers, it is the center of the Cosmos.  It is a ‘Nova’.  A dying star bursts into glory before it becomes the strongest magnetic force in the universe … a black hole.  The diamond is the hardest, most brilliant, beautiful and clearest stone.  It is used to cut and shape other objects.

     The ‘Second Jewel’ plaque, above the Tabernacle or North of the center of the dedicated religious area or church, has a cross and a sapphire.  Christians think they know the meaning of the cross now.  In ancient times, it was the symbol of power.  The sapphire is also a crystalline jewel that in nature can occur in different colors of the spectrum.

     The ‘Third Jewel’ plaque is roughly North West of the center of the church hall.  It shows an emerald and a pyramid.  The stone is green which is the color of life as well as the center of the spectrum which some interpret as the Gamma Ray.  Currently, it is used in electronic communication.  The pyramid is usually a pattern of physical, social or spiritual ascent or a power and status sign.  The Egyptian pyramids and Mayan temples are good examples.  The Holy Trinity is sometimes depicted as a triangle.  The all powerful ‘All Seeing Eye’ is usually shown as a triangle with an eye in the center. 

     The ‘Fourth Jewel’ plaque, North East of the center, is associated with the jasper stone which is the only opaque one among the seven jewels.  It also is clearly the permanent presence of two distinctly different substances discrete but together in the same matrix as in man and woman together in marriage.  Two compasses, slightly overlapping each other, one upright and the other upside down were used instead.  The letter V was substituted for the compass in a later version. 

     The ‘Fifth Jewel’ plaque, located South West is represented by a five point star which in ancient times was the symbol of Venus, the most frequently studied planetary object by different civilizations.  The Mayan Calendar cycles and dates roughly divisible in five worlds, years, cycles was based on the observed ‘movements’  of Venus in the sky.  Topaz is the crystalline jewel in this representation.  Topaz may be yellow as in gold but can also be blue as a clear sky.

     The ‘Sixth Jewel’ plaque is South East and represented by the Sumerian cross which is also a symbol of earthly power.  Ruby is the associated crystalline jewel.  It is a member of the sapphire family but given its own class because of its full saturation of iron.  Iron is the element responsible for magnetism.  At the end of the fifth world in the Mayan calendar, there supposedly would be a reversal of the poles along with a series of severe climate changes.

     The ‘Seventh Jewel’ plaque is South of the center and represented by the Swastika.  This cross with the angular arms has been used by ancient Oriental cultures and is still in use by the Navajo tribe but with the arms pointing  the opposite direction.  A women’s successful group used it before Hitler did.  The original symbol may have been the Southern Cross or a version of the Celestial Cross.  Swastika probably was derived from the Hindu ‘Su asti ka’ meaning … ‘good be you’.  Hitler’s intentions may not have been all  bad.  The crystalline jewel is Amethyst.  In the very deep layer of the sea where Oxygen and light are almost absent, the background color is the same.  As infra red precedes the first visible color of the spectrum of light, ultra violet follows the last one.  Infra red enables seeing in the dark.  Ultra violet destroys living things.  When the seawater changes from blue to violet, ‘Su asti ka!’ becomes both an advice and a warning.  Marine life dies here.

     Lynn thought the Seven Jewels represented the seven sacraments … Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Matrimony, Ordination, Penance and Extreme Unction. 

     The NICC leader who came up with these was definitely well read, spiritual, mystical and futuristic.  It may have been very disconcerting for the more traditional to see these displays with ancient Oriental, pagan, Templar or Free Mason, scientific, Astrophysical and New Age symbols.  The near Apopleptic reaction by the Roman Catholic hierarchy proved disastrous to the NICC.

     Another reason cited by more recent writers was the involvement with the activities of a religious order of nuns supporting disadvantaged citizens in Poland.  There was also a time when the Cannon Law lessened the authority of the heads of abbeys.  The Mother Superior lost the privilege to hear confessions and other duties which were first of all only provided to the cloistered members of particular orders not ordinarily visited by priests.  The particular group in question were also involved in socioeconomic solutions to many problems during the Little Ice Age.  Their efforts helped quite a bit and were unquestionably vital to the survival of the lay population they served.  Modernists claimed antifeminism as an instigating factor.

     The most deleterious factor that worsened relations between the NICC and the Roman Catholic Church is the widespread doubt about the infallibility of the pope.  St. Peter is the classic example of the so called ‘infallible’ head of the Church.  He was also the classic example of what we now call ‘the typical blooper’.  Interpreting descriptions literally and universally to cover all statements can be a similar blunder as saying that all females should wear a burka because the Qu’ran said women should be modestly clothed.  Being infallible does not include all words, statements, and opinions.  It only refers to matters of dogma. 

     Being a human, St. Peter  made many mistakes.  Being infallible, he called Jesus the ‘Messiah’ without being previously informed by the Lord.  It was then that Jesus told him ‘You are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my Church.’.  The infallible rock made mistakes when NOT pontificating about dogma per inspiration by the Holy Spirit.

     When St.  Peter followed Jesus’ example and tried to walk on water, he sank.  When he saw Jesus talking to both Moses and Elias and asked if he should build three booths for them reducing Jesus to the level of the others, God Himself corrected his mistake.  A voice came from the clouds and said … ‘This is My Son, My Chosen One.  Listen to Him.’. 

     During a decisive Vatican Council, one of the items included for acceptance by the whole Roman Catholic Church was the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  This is a matter of faith that actually is physically possible but obviously cannot be proven as fact by us.

     The Blessed Virgin Mary identified herself to St. Bernadette as ‘The Immacuiate Conception’.  Although she has said this to at least one other person, St.     The Blessed Virgin Mary identified herself to St. Bernadette as ‘The Immacuiate Conception’.  Although she has said this toat least one other person, St.nadette was the most believable.  She was a peasant with little education and could barely say her prayers correctly.  She had no way of knowing about the possibility.  She had even less background knowledge or incentive to make up such a theory.  She was instructed by Our Lady to dig into the earth near the grotto where the appearances occurred.  St. Bernadette obeyed and water started flowing out of the hole she made with her hands.  People were healed of different maladies by the miraculous water that formed a spring.  The local bishop believed her.  To this day, millions flock to the site.  Real instances of cure were scientifically and clinically documented.  One of Lynn’s physician friends was so blessed.  Lynn and her family visited in 1987.  She did not plan to go as a patient so she did not get a pre-visit evaluation.  After washing her eyes superficially with a little bit of water pouring out from a hole on the side of a mound at the site, she covered one eye and then the other to test her visual acuity.  To her surprise, there was quite a difference between her left eye and right eye vision.  Later check up in the Ophthalmologists’ office showed that her left eye was better than the right.  It used to be the reverse.  With corrective lenses, her eyesight was still compatible with driving.  This was twenty two years after the Ophthalmology professor in Medical School told her of his possible diagnosis which could not be proven at the time.  He said she would have severe problems in twenty to forty years from then.  Both eyes should have been in terrible shape by this time.  Her new lenses were not too different in strength from the pair made in 1965. 

     Though many accepted the dogma of the Immaculate Conception  of Mary, some understandably did not.  Among those who rejected it was the NICC.  It was presented during the same council that was to accept the infallibility of the pope.  It was poor timing and today would be called poor politics by some and good strategy by others.  A bill in Congress can fail because one of the rider issues was not acceptable.  At this instance two very controversial issues were presented to the same group.

     After the NICC took hold in the Netherlands and Northern Europe, intra organizational factions resulted due to more differences in thought and preferences.  The more mystical group believed in fasting, abstinence from old wine, other forms of self denial, and belief in reincarnation and Gnosticism.  Later, the issue of homosexuality arose when two priests with such inclination were consecrated as bishops.  After a branch started in America, there was a question of jurisdiction.  The NICC America or NICCA was born.

     The NICCA accepts basically all those not allowed or thrown out of the Roman Catholic Church.  There are married priests, women in the clergy up to the level of ‘Deacon’.  Priesthood for women was not possible but hoped for.  Divorced and remarried members, married previously turned NICCA Roman Catholic priests, Protestants, others of miscellaneous faith, homosexuals were all accepted.  Babies born to unwed mothers were baptized without question.  Funeral services to suicide victims and so called unworthy were allowed.  Some feared being surrounded by homosexuals.  The Church was not primarily instituted for such individuals.  They are simply among those welcomed back into the fold instead of being hopelessly being cast beyond retrieval.  This should be nicknamed ‘The Prodigals’ Resource’.

     Both groups went through more changes.  Lynn decided not to immerse herself in those historic events.  The most important thing to know before her first appearance in the NICCA church would be what NICCA believes regardless of what the parent NICC does. 

     By Sunday morning, she still was not sure about some details.  She was certain, though, that she at least found a church to walk to and hear the true mass and receive the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  A lady opened the door for her.  Then Fr. Patrik shook her hand.  She walked around to get familiar with the arrangement of pews in relation to the communion rail.  There was no rail.  There were no kneelers either.  There were two rows of regular looking pews.  The building is small enough making it easy to walk to the front to receive the Sacred Host.  The altar was pushed against the front wall and facing the congregation just like the good old days.  There was a podium in place of a pulpit.  That was not unlike the military chapels in her younger days.  She selected the third pew on the right side and situated herself on the aisle end for ease in joining the line for Holy Communion.  The light was good and low enough to reach the prayer pamphlet.  The one window on the right side was very helpful.  The print on the pamphlet was bold and larger than usual. 

     “Lord, I found THE CHURCH!” 

     An elderly man in black clergy attire sat at the windoe end of the pew.  Lynn did not start any conversation. She still conducted herself very quietly in church anywhere out of respect for God.  The sisters in school should be proud.  A young man walked around checking and arranging things.  She asked if she could take one of the prayer pamphlets home to familiarize herself with the liturgy.  It was different from that in the Roman Catholic Church but had all the same elements with a minimum of Latin still included. The RC removed all Latin after the Second Vatican Council.  She missed it even though she did not understand most of the individual words.  She knew what the sections were about.  She still has two missals in English on one side and Latin on the other.  They used to attend mass in the state capital occasionally to hear the Latin mass said by a ‘stubborn’ priest.  He was excommunicated.  That was terrible.

     Mass started.  Amen was pronounced the Latin way. ‘Holy Ghost’ was mentioned instead of ‘Holy Spirit’.  She just got used to saying that and now she has to revert to the original designation.  Lynn kept kneeling at the wrong time or missing the right time to do so.  The man at the opposite end of the pew sat instead of kneel as the others did.  She presumed that was allowed.  The bump on her right knee was bothering her.  She followed his example.

    Collection time was a problem.  She missed the person with the basket or he missed her as he walked down the aisle.  She was worried about a basket being passed from person to person and was waiting for that.  She definitely would not want to miss it when someone hands it to her lest she drops it.  Communion time came.  She was waiting diligently for the persons on the pew in front of her to stand up.  They did not.  Thinking that they may not be going to receive the Holy Sacrament, she stood up to get into the aisle.  Just then, there was a rush of people from behind going towards the altar.  She quickly sat and waited for her turn.  Then she had to look closely to see how the Host was distributed.  She had to stick her tongue at the priest.  She was glad to have a reason to do so.  There was one saving grace … General Absolution was done at the beginning of the ceremony.  She always liked that.  There was no need to figure out a way to go to church an extra day or hours before mass.  In the practical world, it eliminates the burden of the ‘sanctity of the Confessional’ which placed priests in a terrible spot during legal procedures.  The Communicant gets ready in an instant when needed.  It removes the frustration of trying to figure what sins were actually sins and which ones have not yet been confessed.  Better still, the need for some to manufacture sins becomes history.

     The following Sunday, a different lady also dressed in a clerical outfit, was lighting the candles on the altars and preparing papers on the podium.  The lady who opened the door the previous week distributed rosaries.  There probably was not enough because she was not handed any or perhaps they were only for known members of the congregation.  Fr. Patrik was not in sight.  The man who gave her a copy of the prayer pamphlet was checking the handouts on the table near the door.  The visiting clergyman was not there.  Lynn waited presuming Fr. Patrik was early the previous week because he was expecting her.  The lady who lit the candles stood in front and announced that they would be praying the rosary as modified by Fr. Patrik.  He still was not there.  Lynn decided to wait longer.  Perhaps the mass was scheduled to start after the rosary.  She listened to the prayers.  The mysteries were different.  Each one was about a tree with some significance that she was not able to catch.  She was wondering how late the service would be over.  There was no mass.  The people left about the same time mass ended last time.  Lynn asked the man she was now familiar with and obviously knowledgeable of church activities why there was no mass.  He explained that every so often, when Fr. Patrik had to be elsewhere, a rosary service was held instead.  It was not on a regular schedule.  She has to find out from Fr. Patrik whether or not he would be saying mass the coming Sunday.  She called him the following day to ask about mass the coming Sunday. 

     “I am looking forward to the day when there would be mass every week.”  She said one day.

     “We’re working on it.”  He assured her.

     She made it a point to ask about the next week’s schedule before leaving the church at the end of the service.  She then scrounged for a ride elsewhere when needed.  One time, she forgot to ask.  It so happened that there was not going to be a mass the following Sunday.  When a male seminarian announced a rosary service, she stood up and ask the helpful man who by then was a friend to help her get a cab to the Roman Catholic Church.  As her taxi pulled into the driveway, a couple got out of the church. 

     “Where are you going?”  They asked.

     She told them and offered to share her ride with them.  They declined and looked puzzled.

     One sermon gave Lynn the surprise of her life.  Fr. Patrik related a story about his own experience and why he became a member of the NICCA.  As a young boy from a Roman Catholic family and a student in a Roman Catholic School, he was often disappointed by adults not answering his questions about the seeming inconsistencies in Roman Catholic teachings.  He was often told not to worry about them.  He cannot understand them anyhow.  He eventually grew less and less interested and as a young adult actually stayed out of the Church for about twenty years.  However, he simply felt that he belonged in church and wanted to be a member of any subdivision of the Catholic Church.  He researched all possible options and decided to join NICCA.  He had a list of items that he wanted in the Church he would join.  NICCA had all those except for one.  His wife pointed out that he would never get to find his choice if he does not settle for the one with the most qualities he listed.  He interviewed, joined and actually was talked into the ministry by the leader at the time.  Of course he was not prepared for that.  One day, while sitting in his home’s garden room which was quite dark at the time, he saw a very white light in the darkness.  A lady appeared dressed in a white robe and a blue mantle. She extended a hand to him.  He instinctively reached out and she disappeared.  He said that experience changed his life.  There was no doubt about his future path thereafter.

     By this time, NICCA allowed free thinking.  There were no more heresies.  The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a special place and role.  Belief in Reincarnation and Gnosticism doctrines were no long enforced.  Old wine was no longer forbidden.  Diet was not restricted.  Fasting was on special times in the Liturgical Calendar.  Lay leaders may head special services.  A Deaconess is not a female Deacon but one who is ordained to be granted authority to bring the Sacred Host to the infirm or unable to physically get to church to receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

     One of Lynn’s associates at the local WOWI club told her that Fr.  Patrik was a close friend of the parents of her patient who brought her young son with her every time she came.  This child was refused baptism by the local Roman Catholic priest because the parents were unwed.  That affected him quite a bit.  No wonder he frequently repeats the story about being asked the requirements for baptism of a baby in NICCA and his constant reply … ‘a baby’.  The patient, her parents and sister all became original members of the local NICCA group.  The patient’s grandmother and the latter’s daughter-in-law were also early patients in Lynn’s private office.  They also became early members of NICCA.  The daughter-in-law decided to get confirmed and start seminary training.  It appeared that Fr. Patrik and the early members of the local NICCA congregation were seeking their paths at the very same time Lynn was looking for a church to walk to.

     Lynn received an invitation to join NICCA more than once.  She graciously declined carefully explaining why she had a need to find a church to walk to for the purpose of being able to hear mass and receive Holy Communion.  She still has to go to a Roman Catholic Church when no mass was scheduled at the NICCA facility or when travelling somewhere not served by NICCA.  She hoped that she would be welcomed indefinitely by her hosts to enable her to participate in mass and Holy Communion whenever it is difficult if not impossible to do so.  She was classified as a ‘Congregant’.

     Later, there was an exciting event on the schedule.  The first female Deacon was to be ordained.  Lynn asked for her story. She came to town in 1995 to start a new job.  She was divorced and remarried and therefore excommunicated automatically by the Roman Catholic Church.  She heard of Fr. Patrick leading lay services even before he was ordained to priesthood.  She called to ask if she could join.  She became an original member of the congregation.  During a synod somewhere later, the NICCA decided to approve elevation of women to higher orders up to the level of Deacon.  Yes, she would eagerly welcome being a priest should that be possible later.  In this uncertain world, one has to be ready for all eventualities even before they are generally deemed necessary and approved by the proper authorities.  Actual decisions can be made later even at the last minute.   Adequate  training cannot be accomplished in limited time.  She started preparing even before NICCA decided to include women in the the lower orders of the clergy.

All Rights Reserved MMVIII

Submitted for Copyright 2008

Magdalena D. Guerrero, M.D., FACOG/GP (dr G)