TEEN DAUGHTER & MOTHER MUST NOW COPE WITH HERPES

News Blues
TEEN DAUGHTER & MOTHER MUST NOW COPE WITH HERPES

Dear Any: I am absolutely heartbroken.
My sister called and said my daughter has cold sores.

My 16-year-old daughter has just been diagnosed with a very severe case of herpes simplex-1.

My wife and I am beside ourselves and totally shocked. "Kyla" has had plenty of sex education, and we have had many talks about, the birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees, seeds and wind - the swirling veritable flower orgy out there -- safe sex, birth control pills and condoms. We have discussed the consequences, causation and result - how if you give out all the sugar 'til there's none left, to give and what happens. When I asked her how this happened, she said she had no idea. Of course, Kyla would not tell me who she got it from. I did insist, however, that she inform the boy or girl at once that he or she has a contagious disease. I hope and pray she knows who he or she is and that he or she wasn't one of several. Same goes for her Mother, who may have the same issue.

Please give me some advice as to how to deal with this nightmare. Kyla does not want to share this information with a therapist, and I don't dare tell anyone, especially my wife. She would hit the roof.

I am sick inside, not only for my daughter and her Mother but because of the ramifications of this affliction, which she will have for the rest of her life. I am also upset with myself because there must have been something I failed to get across to her. I am . . .

Worried Sick and Feeling Guilty in Paso Robles

Dear Paso Robles: Cancel the guilt trip, Father. This is not your fault. Herpes is not a death sentence. Thousands of people who have it live normal lives. There are now highly effective drugs that can keep this infection well under control.

She could have gotten cold sores from sharing utensils, glasses or cups with someone who is infected. Or if she had Chicken Pox the virus responsible is still in her system, though mutated.

Kyla needs to be educated, in either case. I recently printed the address of an organization that your daughter should know about. Here it is again: For free, confidential information about herpes, call the American Social Health Association/Herpes Resource Center at 1-800-230-6039, or write: ASHA/HRC, Dept. PR45, P.O. Box 13827, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709. (Enclose $1 for postage and handling. Or goto ... https://va.newsrepublic.net/a6 ...)

Dear Any: My sister, "Dottie," and I are having a serious disagreement. Here's the situation:

Several months ago, when our family went to a nice restaurant for dinner, Dottie whispered to the waiter that it was Mom's birthday. It really wasn't, but she hoped they would bring a complimentary cake to the table, which they did. Of course, nobody ordered dessert because the cake was so wonderful.

A few weeks later, the family went to another nice restaurant for dinner, and Dottie pulled the same stunt. My mother was extremely embarrassed to be presented with a lovely cake while a roomful of strangers sang "Happy Birthday."

Last week, Mom and Dad went on a little vacation. Dottie phoned the hotel manager and said it was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary. (It wasn't.) The hotel manager sent a big bouquet of flowers to the room, and the festive occasion was acknowledged on the marquee in front of the hotel. It identified Mom and Dad by name, which caused them no end of embarrassment.

Dottie thought this was hilarious, but nobody else in the family did. I hope you will publish my letter along with your comments. We all want to know what you have to say.

Duplicity in the Parafamillias

Dear Parafamillias: Dottie's warped sense of humor is working overtime. She should be told the little "joke" is wearing thin, and it's not funny anymore. If she pulls this stunt again, the "victim" should inform the management that some nutty relative is playing games and to please ignore the message .or. ...

It cost nothing to be acknowledged per announcement just say its so, and so visiting and mention from what country/ state, name, that should suffice, no need to be melodramatic. I've done this at a 5star hotel nightclubs overseas for me and wife or a mutual friend we just met has done the same.

Gem of the Day: Let us give thanks, not only for what we have but for what we have escaped.

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