Medical condition change before I-Day: Laparoscopic Appendectomy 3-week before I-day

p2023

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Mar 8, 2019
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DS got appointed to class 2023. Unfortunately, he just had acute appendicitis and had his appendix removed via laparoscopic appendectomy tonight. The surgery went well and he is in recovery. According to the surgeon, he should be fully recovered in 1 to 2 weeks.

I called the DODMERB reporting his medical condition change per his admission counselor's advice. The lady from DODMERB told me that she doesn't know how long it will take to clear this. In other word, DS may not get cleared before I-Day. We are very desperate now since he has turned down all other schools. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
oh man..I don't have any knowledge of how it will play out but I wanted to tell you that I am thinking of you and wishing your son a speedy recovery. Kids will rebound so much quicker than adults but I don't know how the academy will see it. Wishing you all the best.
 
oh man..I don't have any knowledge of how it will play out but I wanted to tell you that I am thinking of you and wishing your son a speedy recovery. Kids will rebound so much quicker than adults but I don't know how the academy will see it. Wishing you all the best.
Thank you so much and we are praying for DS' recovery and guidance through the process!
 
Shoot, I can imagine how this feels! Most important is DS’s health. Focus on that as the rest is out of your control. Easier said than done!!

I will say the the rigors of plebe summer are INCREDIBLY challenging even to the best in shape plebe. Knowing what I know, I wouldn’t want my child there unless the were in their best physical shape of their life thus far. You will have to be in tip-top shape to join on I-day. DS’s assigned roommate was turned away with a cleared, reported injury that didn’t meet USNA standards on IDay. After he walked in through alumni hall. So it does happen.

Really rooting for you all! Hope you get definite answers and are able to find a path that works...whether that’s yet this year, or next. Fingers and toes all crossed
 
Know your DS’s case is not unique. Unusual but not unheard of. An appendectomy makes him no less qualified of appointment than on the day he received the BFE. Other appointees have been turned away at I-Day due to illness or injury. If you believe what you read here, many returned the following year. Some, no doubt, went another path and eventually commissioned. Bottom line is, USAFA has seen this before and will deal with it fairly. The route may be winding, but if DS is committed, he’ll get those butter bars.
 
DS got appointed to class 2023. Unfortunately, he just had acute appendicitis and had his appendix removed via laparoscopic appendectomy tonight. The surgery went well and he is in recovery. According to the surgeon, he should be fully recovered in 1 to 2 weeks.

I called the DODMERB reporting his medical condition change per his admission counselor's advice. The lady from DODMERB told me that she doesn't know how long it will take to clear this. In other word, DS may not get cleared before I-Day. We are very desperate now since he has turned down all other schools. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. You did the right thing to call. Your son’s health is paramount, and heavy daily physical activity starting from the get-go on I-Day may not be feasible.

If your son is not cleared to report in, if USAFA does things similarly in this case to USNA, they will essentially give him an LOA that saves him a seat in 2024. Someone who is more knowledgeable on USAFA than I will surely pop up here, but I can imagine the sweat factor going on in your family.

It it happens...DS would have to go through the nom process again and re-apply. His DODMERB will still be good. DS should get himself into college and take the most USAFA-like courses he can.

There are schools still accepting applications; community college is an option too. If he managed to find a school with AFROTC, he could be a college programmer (no scholarship, just sign up), kick butt and get a nom from there. You never know, there could be unused scholarship money.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/late-applications

Hoping for the best for you, but this happens every year across all SAs. If it does, that extra year of maturation, possibly away from home, college courses and working through this challenge could be a blessing in disguise, and he would be even better prepared for 2024.

The military teaches you if you can’t go through an obstacle, figure out how to go over, under or around it.

Keep us posted.
 
I concur with Capt MJ, community college would be a fine Plan B in this situation. Focus on STEM courses they would take as a 4/C. You aren’t there yet though! Best of luck. I hope to hear about his swearing in in a few weeks!
 
Thank you all, especially Cap MJ, for the encouraging words and advice. As parents, we are preparing for the worst with best effort. But DS is still in high-spirit and believe he will be fully recovered in a week or two for the I-day. DS is in very good recovery so far.

We live in Colorado and DS has been a Varsity XC runner in the past four years. He is in very good heath in general and has been running over 60-mile per week in the past year. He continues his training even after high school graduation. That's why he is so confident on his full recovery. The surgeon performed the appendectomy yesterday served in military before and he said Ben should be good in two week for BCT. But for now, that just provides us a slim hope and we have to wait for the decision from USAFA and DODMERB.

Keep us in your prayers and I will keep you informed.
 
I hope you don't need it, but if you are looking for an alternative, check out the University of Wyoming. It is close to you and has a late application deadline. Great school with terrific AFROTC. My DD is a recent graduate and currently works at the UW Foundation. Out-of-state tuition is cheaper than in-state tuition for most Colorado schools. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
 
Agree with kpmom. UW also gives another potential nom source in AFROTC.
 
I am sure he will be ok to go by IDAY. However call his plan B and explain the situation...... regardless call plan B. My parents paid my deposit years ago for both my plan B and C just in case. Things happen at BCT some are coming back who got hurt last year at BCT. Everyone should keep plan B and or C open up until A-DAY. I highly recommend it. Things can happen and usually do. I know this first hand. Best of luck to you.
 
We have just found ourselves in similar situation. DD has to have unexpected and necessary laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday this week, though less significant than appendectomy. I can not believe this is happening. She is already in touch with usafa. She is in great condition physically, so a quick physical turnaround is possible. Hoping for the best.
 
We have just found ourselves in similar situation. DD has to have unexpected and necessary laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday this week, though less significant than appendectomy. I can not believe this is happening. She is already in touch with usafa. She is in great condition physically, so a quick physical turnaround is possible. Hoping for the best.
Sorry to hear that your DD has to have the laparoscopic surgery. DS is doing very well in recovery so far and USAFA starts the waiver review process for him. Let's pray for their speedy recovery!
 
We have just found ourselves in similar situation. DD has to have unexpected and necessary laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday this week, though less significant than appendectomy. I can not believe this is happening. She is already in touch with usafa. She is in great condition physically, so a quick physical turnaround is possible. Hoping for the best.
Sorry to hear that your DD has to have the laparoscopic surgery. DS is doing very well in recovery so far and USAFA starts the waiver review process for him. Let's pray for their speedy recovery!
Thank you! Glad to hear your son is doing well. She hopes to prepare for the process prior to having surgery Wednesday, but has not yet received a return call from the woman that is handling these Med status changes at USAFA (left her a vm yesterday). Hopeful that they recover quickly and are able and allowed to report on I day. I thought the waiting was over! I hope you are all holding up well. My nerves are shot.
 
We have just found ourselves in similar situation. DD has to have unexpected and necessary laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday this week, though less significant than appendectomy. I can not believe this is happening. She is already in touch with usafa. She is in great condition physically, so a quick physical turnaround is possible. Hoping for the best.
Sorry to hear that your DD has to have the laparoscopic surgery. DS is doing very well in recovery so far and USAFA starts the waiver review process for him. Let's pray for their speedy recovery!
Thank you! Glad to hear your son is doing well. She hopes to prepare for the process prior to having surgery Wednesday, but has not yet received a return call from the woman that is handling these Med status changes at USAFA (left her a vm yesterday). Hopeful that they recover quickly and are able and allowed to report on I day. I thought the waiting was over! I hope you are all holding up well. My nerves are shot.
Wish the best for your daughter's procedure today! We had the same situation that the woman handling DS's medical status changes is on vacation. To gain some time, DS called others on the phone list to help him get the process going.
 
My gut tells me that his XC conditioning will help him recover faster and be ready for I-Day. Hopefully this training and the time until I-day will work in his favor. Of course, if there is one thing for certain it's that no of us ever really know which way the ball bounces when it comes to the military. But USAFA has been here before and know how to handle these situations. I'm confident that your DS will have the right outcome whatever it may be.

Best of luck and hope he gets to report this year!
 
We have just found ourselves in similar situation. DD has to have unexpected and necessary laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday this week, though less significant than appendectomy. I can not believe this is happening. She is already in touch with usafa. She is in great condition physically, so a quick physical turnaround is possible. Hoping for the best.
Sorry to hear that your DD has to have the laparoscopic surgery. DS is doing very well in recovery so far and USAFA starts the waiver review process for him. Let's pray for their speedy recovery!
Thank you! Glad to hear your son is doing well. She hopes to prepare for the process prior to having surgery Wednesday, but has not yet received a return call from the woman that is handling these Med status changes at USAFA (left her a vm yesterday). Hopeful that they recover quickly and are able and allowed to report on I day. I thought the waiting was over! I hope you are all holding up well. My nerves are shot.
Wish the best for your daughter's procedure today! We had the same situation that the woman handling DS's medical status changes is on vacation. To gain some time, DS called others on the phone list to help him get the process going.
DD is in communication with USAFA medical waiver personnel. Has your DS received release to unrestricted activity from his MD as of yet? Heard anything on waiver?
 
We have just found ourselves in similar situation. DD has to have unexpected and necessary laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday this week, though less significant than appendectomy. I can not believe this is happening. She is already in touch with usafa. She is in great condition physically, so a quick physical turnaround is possible. Hoping for the best.
Sorry to hear that your DD has to have the laparoscopic surgery. DS is doing very well in recovery so far and USAFA starts the waiver review process for him. Let's pray for their speedy recovery!
Thank you! Glad to hear your son is doing well. She hopes to prepare for the process prior to having surgery Wednesday, but has not yet received a return call from the woman that is handling these Med status changes at USAFA (left her a vm yesterday). Hopeful that they recover quickly and are able and allowed to report on I day. I thought the waiting was over! I hope you are all holding up well. My nerves are shot.
Wish the best for your daughter's procedure today! We had the same situation that the woman handling DS's medical status changes is on vacation. To gain some time, DS called others on the phone list to help him get the process going.
DD is in communication with USAFA medical waiver personnel. Has your DS received release to unrestricted activity from his MD as of yet? Heard anything on waiver?
Not yet. He will have doctor follow-up in a few days.
 
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