Hi,
My daughter was disqualified for the Air Force Academy due to 3 reasons.
1) History of systemic allergic reaction to shellfish/sesame.
2) History of asthma requiring medication within the last year.
3) History of osteochondral defect managed with microfracture surgery and foreign body removal.
We just received the letter from the Air Force Academy denying a medical waiver.
In 2003, my the 8yr old daughter had an allergic reaction to whatever she was eating while we were on a cruise. When we got home, she went to her
pediatrician for testing. We were told that she had asthma and was mildly allergic to many things, but was severely allergic to sesame oil. We had no idea of the asthma, but it made sense that she was allergic to sesame oil as the shrimp she was eating at the time may have been cooked with it. She was prescribed Advair to be taken daily and Albuterol (puffer) for emergency.
She went to this doctor for almost 10 years before hearing that this doctor had misdiagnosed other patients with asthma. Around the same time, my daughter, who is a competitive gymnast, was being recruited by the Air Force Academy. With the asthma issue looming, we took her to a pulmonologist, who tested her (Spirometry) at the initial visit. The results were 10pbbs, well below the 25pbbs used as the level for asthma. She was taken off all medications and rescheduled for 4 weeks later. She was retested at the next visit and without the medications, her level was even lower...8pbbs. Furthermore, she was not allergic to sesame as we were under the impression of, for the last 10yrs. She is allergic to Lobster and crab. Although, she has eaten this within that same time frame without incident. The last reason for denial is true, she did have microfracture surgery to her right knee. In 2008, she injured her knee vaulting at a gymnastics meet. A 1cm piece of her Chondial was "hanging" down in her knee joint. The first surgeon attempted to keep it attached with a screw that disintegrates after time. This didn't work as she still had pain. In 2010,
we took her to Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. He is one of the best in the country. He does many pro sports players, including Michael Jordan's knee, so I figured he was good enough for my daughter's knee. She had the procedure, where the piece was taken out. Her knee is as strong as ever. She has competed a very high level of gymnastics for the last few years, making it to the Northeast Regionals each year. She practices on this knee 4 hours a day, 6 days a week in addition to competing.
My question: What can we do now? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
My daughter was disqualified for the Air Force Academy due to 3 reasons.
1) History of systemic allergic reaction to shellfish/sesame.
2) History of asthma requiring medication within the last year.
3) History of osteochondral defect managed with microfracture surgery and foreign body removal.
We just received the letter from the Air Force Academy denying a medical waiver.
In 2003, my the 8yr old daughter had an allergic reaction to whatever she was eating while we were on a cruise. When we got home, she went to her
pediatrician for testing. We were told that she had asthma and was mildly allergic to many things, but was severely allergic to sesame oil. We had no idea of the asthma, but it made sense that she was allergic to sesame oil as the shrimp she was eating at the time may have been cooked with it. She was prescribed Advair to be taken daily and Albuterol (puffer) for emergency.
She went to this doctor for almost 10 years before hearing that this doctor had misdiagnosed other patients with asthma. Around the same time, my daughter, who is a competitive gymnast, was being recruited by the Air Force Academy. With the asthma issue looming, we took her to a pulmonologist, who tested her (Spirometry) at the initial visit. The results were 10pbbs, well below the 25pbbs used as the level for asthma. She was taken off all medications and rescheduled for 4 weeks later. She was retested at the next visit and without the medications, her level was even lower...8pbbs. Furthermore, she was not allergic to sesame as we were under the impression of, for the last 10yrs. She is allergic to Lobster and crab. Although, she has eaten this within that same time frame without incident. The last reason for denial is true, she did have microfracture surgery to her right knee. In 2008, she injured her knee vaulting at a gymnastics meet. A 1cm piece of her Chondial was "hanging" down in her knee joint. The first surgeon attempted to keep it attached with a screw that disintegrates after time. This didn't work as she still had pain. In 2010,
we took her to Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. He is one of the best in the country. He does many pro sports players, including Michael Jordan's knee, so I figured he was good enough for my daughter's knee. She had the procedure, where the piece was taken out. Her knee is as strong as ever. She has competed a very high level of gymnastics for the last few years, making it to the Northeast Regionals each year. She practices on this knee 4 hours a day, 6 days a week in addition to competing.
My question: What can we do now? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.