AMP!

Brothers and Sisters in Faith,

Praise be the Name of Beloved Ingkong, Hail to the Queen of Hope, and thanks to our Beloved Mama, Santa Maria Virginia!

In behalf of the Hierarchy of the Apostolic Catholic Church, I would like to extend our profoundest gratitude for all the prayers and support you accorded to Papang, Dr John Florentine, PP. I came back from LA last Monday, 3 days after His Holiness' discharge from the hospital (he was admitted at the UCLA Harbor Hospital in Carson California few hours before his flight back to the Philippines, January 18, 2010 till the 22nd).

He was diagnosed to have CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) resulting from uncontrolled High Blood Pressure (220/125), High Cholesterol, and Uncontrolled Diabetes (having Blood Sugar levels at the 200's), not to mention the enormous amount of stress and pressure that he is experiencing. The Doctors were wondering how did he manage to have such a high BP and not having a stroke or heart attack (though there were early warning signs when he was admitted at the ER) or worst could have died (we told them, he's God's instrument).

He admitted of noncompliance with his medication and diet regimen, including non physical activity (he stopped for some time now his ballroom dancing). Amazingly, his blood tests for his cardiac enzymes (that would show any signs of heart damage) came out to be negative (thanks be to MNI) and his Echocardiogram went fine. The accumulation of fluids in his heart and lungs caused by the high BP was corrected by massive doses of diuretics (medication given via IV to withdraw fluids and be urinated). In a matter of two days, the symptoms were gradually fading. The dreaded Cardiac Catheterization procedure or angiogram (wherein a catheter will be inserted in a cut on the groin to one of the blood vessels and then a dye is injected directly to the blood vessels in the heart to see if there's a blockage via a TV monitor) was cancelled due to the fact that the Cardiology team at UCLA Harbor agreed that he did not have any blockage or heart damage as previously suspected, as the aberrations on the pictures that were taken during an imaging test were due to the movement of Papang while the procedure was ongoing (FYI he had panic attacks inside those oven like machines, he is claustrophobic, he was given a shot of Ativan to help him relax and calm down, pretty scary). It gave so much relief from the anxiety felt by the Patriarch and everyone waiting for the said diagnostic test. He is now on 4 different medications to control his blood pressure. BP's have to be checked at least twice a day.

He was also started and discharged with Insulin orders. His Diabetes is that bad, meaning from now on he will be on insulin injections for life. Apo Marco (an RN Consultant in Carson City, kung saan nakatira ngayon ang Papang) together with the Diabetes Educator agreed that there's still a chance for him, though slim, to be back on oral medications or even to be weaned out from any medications by sticking on a strict diet and exercise regimen. His Blood sugar level is checked twice a day.

Our plan is to have him on "house arrest" to give him ample time to rest and have his BP and Blood sugar stabilized before going home to the Philippines. I will be accompanying him on a date that will be announced soon, after meeting with the other Nurses who are taking care of him (Apo Marco and Apo Rosalina who both are in Long Beach, and myself).

Am going to fly back to the Philippines soon and stay with him for at least a week to train the caregivers back home. We need all your support, spiritually, financially and physically. His medical supplies need to be purchased here before we go home (they're pretty expensive back home with lesser quality as well). Please feel free to contact your parishes for any donations that you can extend to our cause: buying a quality BP apparatus for accurate monitoring, diabetic supplies (quality glucometer, strips, insulin syringes, alcohol pads etc) and medicine (NPH and regular Insulin), BP medications (Losartan, Vasotec, Lasix and Coreg), High Cholesterol meds etc. Maintenance of the above mentioned supplies will likewise be costly; our combined efforts will sustain and maintain a good plan of care for him, and also to relieve him from worrying about them.

Papang embody us all, as our head he deserves all the care, love and support that he needs to be able to stay with us longer and continue the Mission of our juvenile church, the Apostolic Catholic Church. Let us join as one family, with knees bent and hearts open and full of love, to plead and storm the heavens with our prayers for the restoration of the health of His Holiness.

Please pass this message to all your friends in your address book.

Thank you and God Bless us all.

The Paraclete's Fool,

+Adolfo Robert R. Fernando, OMHS, DD
Archbishop ACC North America