Disgrace

Chapter 5: Tita Cat

Katrina

"Hey, goooorl!"

Malawak naman akong napangiti nang magkita kami ni Vlanca dito sa lobby ng South Finegayan General Hospital. When we pulled away from our tight hug, she flashed me that

bright, genuine smile. Her green eyes were gleaming with joy as she looked up at me. Unlike my casual outfit, she's wearing a pair of deep blue scrubs and her whitecoat.

I knew Vlanca—-or mostly known as Dr. Martina Vlanca Del Russo-Arguello. And yes, she is married to that one general surgeon, Dr. Roy Ezekiel Arguello. They're both pretty popular in the medical world—-I knew her through a medical conference that was held in Illinois, Vlanca is a very gifted physician and a very genuine person to hang out with. She's never condescending and is very open minded. All her achievements and the praises of medical journals never get in her head, she is very down to earth.

That said, she told me that she's a surgeon here in Guam and that her husband owns the hospital, and that if I ever need new scenery, all I have to do is reach out to her. We stayed in contact and when I told her that I was visiting the island, she invited me to the hospital.

"This is so refreshing." I couldn't help but say as we walked through the halls of the hospital wards.

Most of the staff that I see are women, at least, each unit we were in consists of at least ninety percent women. As we were passing by, I could see resident doctors that did not look like me when I was resident;  sad, depressed, and anxiety-ridden faces. They were the complete opposite of that. They were chatting among each other, the Attendings that they were following looked and seemed polite and genuine about teaching medicine. They were so unlike the Attendings I had back in Chicago, who were men and mostly åssholes and had an inflated sense of egos.

"My husband and I were both doctors and we knew how toxic residency could be and how mentally taxing it is, so in SFGH's surgical and practitioner program, we make sure that the residents' mental healths are the priority. We also make sure that the nurses are on the same page in terms of patient load and compensation. We can't save the whole world, but we can begin here."

Napangiti naman ako.

"Grabe, mare. I'm really happy and now that you're the chief of general surgery and most chiefs are women, I know that your girls won't mansplain my job to me."

Natawa naman siya. We stopped by the glass railings that have the view of the entire hospital lobby and the glass walls that sorround the hospital.

"We are still in need of a head physician in the emergency unit and I was hoping that you would take the job. I've seen your work in Chicago and you would be a great addition to our team, and I just know that you would be an even greater teacher to the med students and the interns here. They would benefit a lot from you."

My heart warmed.

"Vlanca, ano ba, ang yaman mo na, gusto mo pa bang ilibre kita?"

She threw her head back and laughed with me.

"Hindi nga, gaga." Pabiro niyang tinapik ang ulo ko. "Seryoso. Magaling ka ngang doktor."

Napangisi naman ako bago ako napahugot ng hininga.

"How much are they paying you in Chicago? I can convince my husband to double whatever it is." She winked at me and that made me giggle again.

"Siraulo ka talaga, Doc V. Parang candy lang ang ah."

"Oy, walang 'too much' sa asawa ko. One time, we were staying at this hotel because my son, Magnus, liked their waterslide. And so we were there. I was strolling with Kiel while our son enjoyed the water. I told him that I liked the beach, you know and the hotel room, just normal conversation. Come to find out the next morning that he bought both the hotel and the beachfront." She shook her head.