My bags are packed...the dreaded "I" word

Well, it's 10:45pm and I'm finally packed and ready to go.

Today was a crazy day, trying to get everything ready to go and to prepare for all of the "what ifs?". Morning mass, then coffee with friends, mowed the lawn, watered the lawn, watered the garden, went to the chiropractor, got a massage, had two incredible friends help me clean the house (thanks Ashley and Aislinn!), did some laundry, did the pre-registration on the phone with the hospital, had to deal with the insurance company (more on that later) hosted a make-up session for the study group I lead at our church (Women of Grace), and finally got myself packed. Whew...it was a day that's for sure.

People keep asking me how I'm feeling. I feel great. I'm really not that nervous at all. I guess having already gone through a major surgery (amputation of my little toe when I was still in high school), and having been an EMT at one time, I'm used to hospitals and being around medical situations. Sure, this one's different because it's on me, but still...I'm not too worried about it. I trust Dr. Parker completely. It's amazing what having a pro-life, pro-woman, pro-family, Catholic doctor can do to help one feel confident and at peace.

The Insurance company on the other hand...that was the true downer of my day. Why is it that I always end up feeling like I'm the hydrant and they're the dog? Four weeks ago, I cleared everything with them and so when I called today to make sure everything was set, I didn't expect any issues. (Stupid me.) I feel like Gatsby yearning after the green light at the end of the dock, only the thing I'm after is to find out how much this surgery is going to cost me. You'd think that would be an easy question. But it hasn't been. And today, they informed me they needed to talk to my doctor's office to find out more about why this surgery was being done. Thankfully, I was able to be three-way called to the doctor's office and the insurance guy and I were able to talk to my doctor's nurse. I'll spare you the details, but pretty much what the Insurance guy was after was the answer to one question, "Does this have to do or will it possibly end up having to do with infertility?" Ah yes....the big "I" word.

And why does it really matter? Because my friends, in case you don't know...most insurance plans won't pay for anything having to do with "infertility." They will however, pay for a termination of pregnancy...but infertility? Nope, nada. With all that we've been hearing in the news about this proposed Governmental Health Care plan, I really do fear for women like me who need these surgeries to correct a medical problem. After all, isn't that what Health Care is supposed to be for? To correct medical conditions? In almost all cases, an abortion (a.k.a. "termination of pregnancy" in Health Insurance lingo) doesn't solve a medical condition...there is rarely a medical condition involved, it's usually just a personal preference or "choice" if you will. Why can't we see, that in a pregnancy, the woman's body is actually doing what it is supposed to be doing?--fostering and developing a new human life. There is nothing to be fixed or healed there, everything is working just fine. In my condition, however, and the many women like myself, there is something wrong with our bodies. We have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome/Disorder, we have Endometriosis, we don't ovulate, we can't conceive a child or carrying a child to term. These my friends are examples of real medical conditions. Situations where the body is not working correctly and does need healing and care. You would think that health care would cover this, right? Nope. Not if they even suspect that you are doing this for any reason even remotely having to do with infertility. The big "I" word. It's like the scarlet letter of the insurance world.

It's a true struggle for me to try and come to terms with the injustice of it all. I pray for charity and for peace in my heart. I also pray that our politicians will realize what is at stake when they cast their votes on this new fiasco of a Health Care System currently being proposed. Tax dollars (including mine) will go towards publicly funded abortion (which as I have stated above is not a medical procedure to heal the body, and in fact is horribly detrimental to the woman's body, mind, soul, etc) and which will be covered by Health plans, but no tax money, and no health insurance, will pay for women like me to receive treatment that will restore my body to working order, reduce or remove my pelvic pain, help me to ovulate, reduce my risk of cancer (see piece on Ovarian Wedge Resection in earlier post), and perhaps even allow me to conceive and carry a child....yeah...none of that is covered if the dreaded "I" word is involved.


Lord, have mercy. We seriously need to pray for the Truth to come to light and for the falsehoods spread about medical care in this country to be revealed. Please pray for our doctors, and especially our Catholic doctors, that they would have the courage to once again return to a time where the Hippcratic Oath and the spirit in which it was intended held water...

I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

So again, to answer the question...how am I doing? Regarding our travels tomorrow, the surgery, and everything else...GREAT! I'm just in mourning for our nation and our world, who have their priorities so greatly mixed up. Lord, have mercy.

Thank you all for your support, your kindness and your prayers.