Annie’s Mailbox: Neighbor may want to split medical bill
Q. A month ago, my wife was bitten by our neighbor’s foster dog. While the dog was healthy and had had all of its shots, the bite became infected and required a doctor’s care. This turned out to be a lengthy process, including shots and a prescription. It seems to be healing up.
Our insurance paid the bill, and so far we have not received anything indicating that we owe money. The neighbor has apologized many times, and the dog has been returned to the facility.
Our neighbor is very nice, and we don’t want to create a conflict. Should we just let it go, or should the neighbor reimburse us for any additional costs? – Not Sure
A. If there is no additional cost for your wife’s medical bills or prescriptions, we think your neighbor has done all she can – apologized profusely and returned the dog. However, should a medical bill show up in the mail, you ought to ask your neighbor whether she would like to pay it or split it with you. She might actually feel better knowing she has not saddled you with a bill because of the dog.
Dear Annie: I have been crying my eyes out for the last week. Our beautiful, talented, intelligent daughter, “Susie,” became pregnant during her last semester of college. The father was a classmate. He comes from a very traditional culture, and his parents have a successful business.
When Susie told her boyfriend about the baby, he did not respond. My husband threatened to hire a lawyer, so Susie informed him that he had to tell his parents about the baby. They demanded a paternity test, which proved their son was the father. Although we recommended adoption, Susie opted to keep the baby. The lawyer got a decent amount of child support based on the boyfriend’s income. But a month later, the boyfriend suddenly quit his job and moved back to his parents’ native country.
Our grandson is now 3, and Susie barely earns enough for child care and rent.
Last week, I got a call from the mother of one of Susie’s college friends. Apparently, her daughter had invited Susie to her recent wedding, and Susie sent a note saying she’d be out of town. But another friend saw Susie boarding a bus the morning of the wedding. When I asked Susie, she started sobbing. She said she didn’t have enough money to buy a dress and get her hair done for the big day. So she maxed out her credit card to send a nice gift. What’s worse, the bride had intended to introduce Susie to her cousin, a nice professional man from out of state. Now he’s back on the West Coast, and Susie is stuck in a third-floor walk-up.
Annie, I worry that it is too late for Susie, but please warn other young women. When it comes to a pregnancy, it is always the woman who pays the price. – Brokenhearted Mom
Dear Mom: Please stop concentrating on whether or not Susie has a man in her life. That is not her focus right now, nor should it be. If she cannot get child support from her reprobate ex-boyfriend, she will need your assistance to get by. Can you help with rent? What about child care? Please think about how you can make Susie’s life easier.