WINDFALL

Every so often all of us like to hear some good news. I am one of the few where good news doesn’t reach me. Somewhere along the highways and the rivers, the good news takes  a dive and goes in the opposite direction. At least that’s what it sound to me, or feels for me.

Last year when I went to London, I had an MI, and was in the hospital there and had an angiogram etc. Remember my fiasco there? Well, after I was admitted, and before the angiogram was done, a lady from the business office came up and very politely and in perfect and impeccable English accent told me that because I was a foreigner, I had to pay up front. Only after I paid would I have the physicians / surgeons take a look at me.

I gave them my card and they charged me for the stay and the procedure. It was much better than the amount I would have paid here in the US. I think I was charged close to $8K. Well, I was glad to be back home and had my stents done at Wash U in St. Louis in August. That was MUCH MORE than what I paid for in London.

Early in May, I received an email form the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. It read, ” Dear Dr. Ali, it appears that we charged you more than was necessary during your stay here in July. We would like to reimburse you for the amount that you were over charged! The amount is a little over one thousand British Pounds!! ”

Obviously I read and reread that email. My jaw dropped. NEVER in my life had such a thing happened to me. And after a few emails about how to send the money and which bank, etc. I was told that the money had been sent to my local bank here. Yesterday, I got notification from my bank that the money had come in!

What a windfall! I mean, just think the hospital could have just kept quiet and not mentioned it. I thought it was so righteous of them to return the money to me.

I had seen a beautiful pair of earrings at my jeweler’s recently. heh  heh heh! Yup, you guessed it.  The word splurge comes to mind!

ciao~~~