My wife first discovered these forums after we got the dreaded DQ letter from DoDMERB. Our son had leukemia at age four and had achieved (and maintained) remission shortly after his chemotherapy was started.
I had searched the forums for waivers due to cancer history and found very little direct information - which is why I am posting his story. Here in the DoDMERB section I read about Larry Mullen and got his email address. After emailing him late at night I received an email response from him, and a personal phone call from Director Cpt. Merchant early the next morning. I can assure you that the DoDMERB folks are very knowledgeable and helpful - and certainly advocate for our SA and ROTC candidates.
They assured me that my son's medical history and length of time in remission put him in a favorable position for waiver consideration. It seemed like the waiver decision took a long time, but since we sent over 500 pages of medical records it makes sense (I got the impression that these records were reviewed in some detail).
My son received an LOA at the same time the waiver request was initiated - at the end of October. We received word on the waiver being granted the second week of January, and got confimation of a nomination (actually two) later the same week. His appointment to the USMA arrived last Saturday and he has already accepted his appointment.
I don't know how many cancer survivors get into the service academies these days, but I have seen current statistics that state that 80% of all childhood cancer patients now survive long term. It's encouraging to see that the medical officials take an open-minded approach to these extraordinary individuals.
I had searched the forums for waivers due to cancer history and found very little direct information - which is why I am posting his story. Here in the DoDMERB section I read about Larry Mullen and got his email address. After emailing him late at night I received an email response from him, and a personal phone call from Director Cpt. Merchant early the next morning. I can assure you that the DoDMERB folks are very knowledgeable and helpful - and certainly advocate for our SA and ROTC candidates.
They assured me that my son's medical history and length of time in remission put him in a favorable position for waiver consideration. It seemed like the waiver decision took a long time, but since we sent over 500 pages of medical records it makes sense (I got the impression that these records were reviewed in some detail).
My son received an LOA at the same time the waiver request was initiated - at the end of October. We received word on the waiver being granted the second week of January, and got confimation of a nomination (actually two) later the same week. His appointment to the USMA arrived last Saturday and he has already accepted his appointment.
I don't know how many cancer survivors get into the service academies these days, but I have seen current statistics that state that 80% of all childhood cancer patients now survive long term. It's encouraging to see that the medical officials take an open-minded approach to these extraordinary individuals.
