Heartbreaks, Prosecution, and Retribution

Chapter 15 : Calming Seas

Finally, getting back to work later on that day, which is where I needed to be at in the first place. I called in previously to let them know about my situation because I couldn't handle it anymore.

I received a written counseling statement later on that day on my misbehavior from my squad-leader because I was supposed to supervise the vehicle dispatching process instead of being at the hospital. They don't even care that my buddy covered for me after calling him. But it didn't matter the way my platoon sergeant seemed to express it.

I was inflamed with rage. Even though I wasn't married to Rose, I was the baby's father and that apparently didn't matter to them. I shrugged off this little correctional debate because it was bullshit, but I didn't forget it. I wrote my defense on the back of the form, and that was it.

I had enough, so I told my squad-leader that I wanted to speak to the First Sergeant. It was granted. I had to bring my situation in the clear. I didn't know how to handle it and with my platoon sergeant not caring and my squad-leader seeming to be half-minded, I didn't know what to do. I finally got in to see the First Sergeant, escorted by my squad-leader. Before I could start, my squad-leader began to tell the First Sergeant a brief synopsis of my issue, but I will say that I don't want this guy as my attorney in any case. He straight up and said, "First Sergeant, Sergeant Davis here is married and got his girlfriend pregnant. I will let Sergeant Davis tell you the rest." I looked at my First Sergeant. I could see he was about to let me have it, but he allowed me to plead my side first. I then told him my story about my elongated divorce issue and now current predicament. He then said we can do one of two things: either I could allow the military to try to pay for the issue, and it would come down that I committed adultery and would have to be punished or just chalk up my losses financially and get loans to pay for it. He then made my platoon sergeant apologize to me about the counseling that I received previously.

A few days had gone by, and Rose was supposed to be getting released from the hospital, but she wasn't going to be allowed to until her medical bill was paid for in full. The total cost of the surgery and all the medical care for her and the babies were close to $25,000 in American money.

I couldn't pay this, at least not all at once. I still had my re-enlisted bonus of $12,000 that was placed in savings which would help some, but this was an issue.

I talked with the manager of the billing department. I asked, "So you are going to keep Rose here and keep adding more money to the bill if I don't pay in full."

The manager stated, "You just need to pay for Rose's bill first, then pay for the baby's later. This way she could be released."

"How can you expect such a payment?" I asked. Even with the insurance plan, it didn't matter since she was a foreigner, and I was a foreigner myself. The manager stated that their policy is that if foreigners cannot provide the money up front, then they will not receive service. Since we were in need of emergency care, they would hold on to her until the payment was paid.

I began to argue and debate that this was more of imprisonment than hospital care. The longer they stayed, the more I would end up paying due to daily service charges. I had enough. I threatened them with a lawsuit. Once I brought that to the financial manager's attention, we came to an agreement. Since Nathan needed to be in care for still some time.

I went ahead and paid for most of Rose's expenses so she could be released. Nathan had to stay in the hospital for the next month for observation and additional treatment.

Over a period of time, Nathan was getting healthier and more stable. In just a matter of weeks, he could suck milk from a bottle and was not going to be needing placement in the incubator anymore. He could then be placed on a regular baby bed free from all external supports.