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Can't get no satisfaction: Couple unable to find peace until
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Posted by nwv_admin Wed Sep 15, 2004 09:24:00 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Dr. Ruben and Dr. Norma Gualberto, parents of three and members of the Filipino-American Community Church on Jewetta Avenue, like to describe themselves as "Christians who just happen to be doctors of medicine." Along those lines, they could also be described as "normal people who just happen to have had extraordinary lives."

As a child in the Philippines, Norma attended church every day, observed rituals, did penance during Holy Week, and felt her good works would assure her a place in heaven. Ruben, on the other hand, would go to church only if there was a girl he was trying to impress. But as the years passed, Norma would discover that her good works couldn't save her from personal hell. And Ruben would meet a girl, Norma, whom he hid his newfound faith from -- until she discovered true belief for herself.

The Gualbertos married and pursued their medical careers in the Philippines before moving to the U.S., where Ruben was able to establish a successful practice in 1971. Yet despite the convenience and comforts that came along with success, the Gualbertos recall feeling empty and insecure.

"To satisfy our need, we consulted mediums and spiritists, anyone who claims to know what fortune holds. We dabbled in fortune telling, spirit of glass, Ouija boards and the like, but I still had no satisfaction," said Ruben.

During Norma's eighth month of pregnancy, she developed severe gastroenteritis, which caused her uterus to contract excessively, endangering the baby. She was given an IV injection but experienced an allergic reaction and went into shock.

"While unconscious, I had a near-death experience where I saw myself falling into a bottomless pit and I felt so helpless. For the first time I doubted whether good works were enough to earn a place in heaven," recalled Norma.

After delivery, the Gualbertos' doctor recommended they stop having children due to a condition called cervical dysplasia, which can develop into cervical cancer. They ignored the recommendation and had two more children.

In 1980, Ruben accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. He did not share this with Norma, however, in fear that her religious upbringing would cause her to object to his faith and disrupt their smooth relationship.

Then, in 1983, Norma also accepted Christ.

"But the Christian life is not a bed of roses," she said, revealing that, true to her gynecologist's prediction, she did develop cancer of the cervix, and, on top of that, several fibroid tumors in the uterus which caused profuse bleeding.

Doctors recommended surgery, but Norma felt the Lord had other plans for her.

"In a Christian fellowship meeting I attended, the Lord impressed upon the speaker that He would heal someone with tumors of the uterus and cancer of the cervix. I acknowledged it to be me. They laid hands upon me during the prayer, and I felt a warm sensation in my pelvic area. My bleeding stopped completely," she said.

Upon arriving home, Ruben was skeptical about his wife's healing. But a visit to the doctor proved it.

Still, Norma's next major trial came swiftly. On the evening of Dec. 15, 1995, she awoke with severe, upper right abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with advanced cancer of the liver. A liver specialist at UCLA recommended immediate surgery, including removal of the liver followed by chemotherapy and a liver transplant at a later date. Chances of survival within five years was 50-50.

But, according to the Gualbertos, their Savior stepped in again.

"The following Sunday, the pastor asked those who were sick to come forward to pray for healing. A deacon, who himself had been healed of cancer, laid hands on me and prayed. While he was praying, I felt a warm sensation in my liver area. Right then, I knew I was healed," Norma said.

Ruben called the surgeon and requested he do a frozen biopsy section before removing Norma's liver. He said he'd see if it could be done once viewing the liver.

After nearly two hours, he came out. Ruben feared his wife had died on the operating table. But the surgeon said he'd found only scar tissue -- no cancer. "Your prayers have been answered," he said.

Some months later, Norma developed psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, which she still has today.

"I still have the condition, but I continue to trust and serve my Lord to the best of my abilities whatever my situation may be," she said.

The Gualbertos then developed a desire to fellowship with Filipinos, and were led to the believers of the Filipino American Church of Irvine, who later told them they were praying to God to send someone to help with their ministry.

In 2000, after asking God to lead him to a clinic where he could best serve Him, Ruben was offered a position by the medical director of Bakersfield Medical Center. The family moved to Bakersfield in September of 2000 and have since been busy conducting discipleship lessons.

"The Lord even led us to get involved in the church planting of a new congregation of Filipinos. The Baptist General Conference Intercultural Ministry has also invited me to do more evangelism and discipleship to every Filipino church affiliated with them all over America," said Ruben, who's now retired and has finally found what wealth and image couldn't buy -- satisfaction.

"Whatever the Lord wants, my wife and I are ready to comply," he said.

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