school and illness

[summer732]

Going to college was one of the most amazing experiences ever. I was also very lucky in the fact that I found a college that I completely fell in love with that was only 20 minutes away from my cousin's house and an hour and 15 minutes away from home. If something major happened, I was covered to either drive myself home or go to my cousin's house.

I was never hospitalized during the school year. I never missed an assignement and I only asked for one extension on a paper. I finished college in four years, while taking one year off to get my lung transplant. (So it took five years, but four academically).

College was one of the most amazing experiences. It was a time for me to gain independence and learn to take care of myself. I have to admit though, my best year was my senior year, after the transplant was all said and done.

It is nice to get away from family and sort of take control regarding your own health, and college is a great place to start that. You live in a dorm, so you are living on your own without actually living on your own!

 

[littletally]

I went to college with no problems until the end. I went to school to be a teacher and was fine until I had to student teach. I caught a cold and since I didn't want to miss anything I tried to ignore it (BIG Mistake) it got worse and turned into pnemonia. It was the worst I had ever been and I ended up missing the rest of student teaching and did not get a chance to finish one class in time either. So I have yet to go back. But if I did I would have to figure out health insurance again and right now I have a full time job at a bank with great health insurance so I guess it all turned out ok.

Nikki
27 with cf

 

[littletally]

I went to college with no problems until the end. I went to school to be a teacher and was fine until I had to student teach. I caught a cold and since I didn't want to miss anything I tried to ignore it (BIG Mistake) it got worse and turned into pnemonia. It was the worst I had ever been and I ended up missing the rest of student teaching and did not get a chance to finish one class in time either. So I have yet to go back. But if I did I would have to figure out health insurance again and right now I have a full time job at a bank with great health insurance so I guess it all turned out ok.

Nikki
27 with cf

 

[littletally]

I went to college with no problems until the end. I went to school to be a teacher and was fine until I had to student teach. I caught a cold and since I didn't want to miss anything I tried to ignore it (BIG Mistake) it got worse and turned into pnemonia. It was the worst I had ever been and I ended up missing the rest of student teaching and did not get a chance to finish one class in time either. So I have yet to go back. But if I did I would have to figure out health insurance again and right now I have a full time job at a bank with great health insurance so I guess it all turned out ok.

Nikki
27 with cf

 

[Kelli]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>sakasuka</b></i>

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Samsmom</b></i>



I am a mother of 3 who worked for 12 years in an auto. factory and am now a full time college student. <b> I don't have health issue of my own</b>, but I can tell you it is soooo difficult to keep up with college while raising 3 kids (4 if you count the husband and let's not forget the dog, cats, fish) and with one of those kids having cf. If I could turn back the clock with the knowledge I have today you can bet I would have finished college my first time around before kids, marriage and life as an adult happened. Also it is a lot harder to get back into the study and learn mode after about 15 years out of school. Heck, I found out that the periodic table of elements has had new chemicals added to it since my highschool chem. class-talk about feeling old!!! Chase your dreams with every ounce of passion you have and one day you will wake up a realize you caught them!! Good luck with school, if I can do it and make straight A's anyone can.</end quote></div>



Do you have CF, Samsmom?</end quote></div>

 

[Kelli]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>sakasuka</b></i>

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Samsmom</b></i>



I am a mother of 3 who worked for 12 years in an auto. factory and am now a full time college student. <b> I don't have health issue of my own</b>, but I can tell you it is soooo difficult to keep up with college while raising 3 kids (4 if you count the husband and let's not forget the dog, cats, fish) and with one of those kids having cf. If I could turn back the clock with the knowledge I have today you can bet I would have finished college my first time around before kids, marriage and life as an adult happened. Also it is a lot harder to get back into the study and learn mode after about 15 years out of school. Heck, I found out that the periodic table of elements has had new chemicals added to it since my highschool chem. class-talk about feeling old!!! Chase your dreams with every ounce of passion you have and one day you will wake up a realize you caught them!! Good luck with school, if I can do it and make straight A's anyone can.</end quote></div>



Do you have CF, Samsmom?</end quote></div>

 

[Kelli]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>sakasuka</b></i>

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Samsmom</b></i>



I am a mother of 3 who worked for 12 years in an auto. factory and am now a full time college student. <b> I don't have health issue of my own</b>, but I can tell you it is soooo difficult to keep up with college while raising 3 kids (4 if you count the husband and let's not forget the dog, cats, fish) and with one of those kids having cf. If I could turn back the clock with the knowledge I have today you can bet I would have finished college my first time around before kids, marriage and life as an adult happened. Also it is a lot harder to get back into the study and learn mode after about 15 years out of school. Heck, I found out that the periodic table of elements has had new chemicals added to it since my highschool chem. class-talk about feeling old!!! Chase your dreams with every ounce of passion you have and one day you will wake up a realize you caught them!! Good luck with school, if I can do it and make straight A's anyone can.</end quote></div>



Do you have CF, Samsmom?</end quote></div>

 

[ElizabethlovesChris]

Hi Erin,
My husband Chris has CF and college was definitely a huge challenge for him as he has been a "sicker" CF for most of his years with lots of complications and resulting hospitalizations. At first, right out of high school, he went to a local community college just because it was the 'right thing to do' but didn't really take it seriously because his health was so poor he was kind of like 'what's the point'. After we became more serious though and wanted to get married, he started to take it more seriously and I worked to cover him with health insurance while he went back to school full-time. Like someone else mentioned, we tried to manage his hospital admissions around Spring Break, Thanksgiving break, Winter and summer breaks - if possible. Of course, there were times when he would have more acute episodes and would have to miss classes. After being stubborn about it for a while, he found that filing with the Disabilities/Health Office on campus helped him to receive some 'grace' from the professors. He filed a letter from his CF doctor talking about the ADA requirements to allow him extra time to finish, etc. with the office and then his butt was covered if he had an emergency and needed a time for a make-up exam or something. Many times he ended up teaching himself certain concepts when he had to miss class.

After finishing his Bachelors in 2002 (we married in 99) he expressed his desire to really do something more with his life/career and decided to get his Master's degree in Physical Therapy. (nowadays you are required to have an MS to practice physical therapy). He was accepted into a program near our home in Houston and the program was 90 something graduate level hours - a TON for a master's degree. It took him 2 1/2 years to finish, which is perfectly on track with his classmates. It was very grueling during the last 8 or 9 months with internships that were virtually unpaid full time jobs, but he hung in there and did home IVs more often than usual. He just graduated this last Dec. 2006 - and is now a practicing PT in Tucson, AZ. I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. (can you tell??) ha!

The one thing he says that he would do differently is to have taken school more seriously at the beginning, because he could have reached this dream a few years ago. He didn't think he would live this long, but he came to learn that you simply live your life without fear. Doesn't mean without wisdom, just don't let CF steal more from you than it already has.

Good luck to you!!

 

[ElizabethlovesChris]

Hi Erin,
My husband Chris has CF and college was definitely a huge challenge for him as he has been a "sicker" CF for most of his years with lots of complications and resulting hospitalizations. At first, right out of high school, he went to a local community college just because it was the 'right thing to do' but didn't really take it seriously because his health was so poor he was kind of like 'what's the point'. After we became more serious though and wanted to get married, he started to take it more seriously and I worked to cover him with health insurance while he went back to school full-time. Like someone else mentioned, we tried to manage his hospital admissions around Spring Break, Thanksgiving break, Winter and summer breaks - if possible. Of course, there were times when he would have more acute episodes and would have to miss classes. After being stubborn about it for a while, he found that filing with the Disabilities/Health Office on campus helped him to receive some 'grace' from the professors. He filed a letter from his CF doctor talking about the ADA requirements to allow him extra time to finish, etc. with the office and then his butt was covered if he had an emergency and needed a time for a make-up exam or something. Many times he ended up teaching himself certain concepts when he had to miss class.

After finishing his Bachelors in 2002 (we married in 99) he expressed his desire to really do something more with his life/career and decided to get his Master's degree in Physical Therapy. (nowadays you are required to have an MS to practice physical therapy). He was accepted into a program near our home in Houston and the program was 90 something graduate level hours - a TON for a master's degree. It took him 2 1/2 years to finish, which is perfectly on track with his classmates. It was very grueling during the last 8 or 9 months with internships that were virtually unpaid full time jobs, but he hung in there and did home IVs more often than usual. He just graduated this last Dec. 2006 - and is now a practicing PT in Tucson, AZ. I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. (can you tell??) ha!

The one thing he says that he would do differently is to have taken school more seriously at the beginning, because he could have reached this dream a few years ago. He didn't think he would live this long, but he came to learn that you simply live your life without fear. Doesn't mean without wisdom, just don't let CF steal more from you than it already has.

Good luck to you!!

 

[ElizabethlovesChris]

Hi Erin,
My husband Chris has CF and college was definitely a huge challenge for him as he has been a "sicker" CF for most of his years with lots of complications and resulting hospitalizations. At first, right out of high school, he went to a local community college just because it was the 'right thing to do' but didn't really take it seriously because his health was so poor he was kind of like 'what's the point'. After we became more serious though and wanted to get married, he started to take it more seriously and I worked to cover him with health insurance while he went back to school full-time. Like someone else mentioned, we tried to manage his hospital admissions around Spring Break, Thanksgiving break, Winter and summer breaks - if possible. Of course, there were times when he would have more acute episodes and would have to miss classes. After being stubborn about it for a while, he found that filing with the Disabilities/Health Office on campus helped him to receive some 'grace' from the professors. He filed a letter from his CF doctor talking about the ADA requirements to allow him extra time to finish, etc. with the office and then his butt was covered if he had an emergency and needed a time for a make-up exam or something. Many times he ended up teaching himself certain concepts when he had to miss class.

After finishing his Bachelors in 2002 (we married in 99) he expressed his desire to really do something more with his life/career and decided to get his Master's degree in Physical Therapy. (nowadays you are required to have an MS to practice physical therapy). He was accepted into a program near our home in Houston and the program was 90 something graduate level hours - a TON for a master's degree. It took him 2 1/2 years to finish, which is perfectly on track with his classmates. It was very grueling during the last 8 or 9 months with internships that were virtually unpaid full time jobs, but he hung in there and did home IVs more often than usual. He just graduated this last Dec. 2006 - and is now a practicing PT in Tucson, AZ. I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. (can you tell??) ha!

The one thing he says that he would do differently is to have taken school more seriously at the beginning, because he could have reached this dream a few years ago. He didn't think he would live this long, but he came to learn that you simply live your life without fear. Doesn't mean without wisdom, just don't let CF steal more from you than it already has.

Good luck to you!!

 

[janddburke]

My daughter is only 12 but college is definetly something we discuss with her.
I know some schools are more cooperative that others.
which colleges/universities did people attend and how accomodating were they?

 

[janddburke]

My daughter is only 12 but college is definetly something we discuss with her.
I know some schools are more cooperative that others.
which colleges/universities did people attend and how accomodating were they?

 

[janddburke]

My daughter is only 12 but college is definetly something we discuss with her.
I know some schools are more cooperative that others.
which colleges/universities did people attend and how accomodating were they?

 

[purpleangel28282]

I got through the first two years of highschool very well but then my junior year I started getting really sick and had to miss classes to be hospitalized and the same thing happend senior year although I was usually able to schedule hospital stays with breaks. I went off to Westmont College and was living in the dorms this fall as a freshman and things totally went downhill. I was constantly tired, had fevers, a bad cough, lost weight etc... and I finally just had to withdraw from the school because I was sick for about 95% of the time that I was there (about 2 1/2 months). I think living in the dorm was what caused me to be so sick because there are so many germs floating around and no matter what someone in my section was always sick. Then for spring I registered at my local Commuity College and am living at home and I'm doing fantastically! Although I find that it's too hard to go to school full time and have a job.

 

[purpleangel28282]

I got through the first two years of highschool very well but then my junior year I started getting really sick and had to miss classes to be hospitalized and the same thing happend senior year although I was usually able to schedule hospital stays with breaks. I went off to Westmont College and was living in the dorms this fall as a freshman and things totally went downhill. I was constantly tired, had fevers, a bad cough, lost weight etc... and I finally just had to withdraw from the school because I was sick for about 95% of the time that I was there (about 2 1/2 months). I think living in the dorm was what caused me to be so sick because there are so many germs floating around and no matter what someone in my section was always sick. Then for spring I registered at my local Commuity College and am living at home and I'm doing fantastically! Although I find that it's too hard to go to school full time and have a job.

 

[purpleangel28282]

I got through the first two years of highschool very well but then my junior year I started getting really sick and had to miss classes to be hospitalized and the same thing happend senior year although I was usually able to schedule hospital stays with breaks. I went off to Westmont College and was living in the dorms this fall as a freshman and things totally went downhill. I was constantly tired, had fevers, a bad cough, lost weight etc... and I finally just had to withdraw from the school because I was sick for about 95% of the time that I was there (about 2 1/2 months). I think living in the dorm was what caused me to be so sick because there are so many germs floating around and no matter what someone in my section was always sick. Then for spring I registered at my local Commuity College and am living at home and I'm doing fantastically! Although I find that it's too hard to go to school full time and have a job.

 

[Samsmom]

To Sakasuka and Kelli, No I do not have cf. Sorry if that miss-led you. What I meant is that I am healthy, but still there are challenges to trying to go to school while raising kids, and one of my kids has cf. Sorry for the confusion!!!

 

[Samsmom]

To Sakasuka and Kelli, No I do not have cf. Sorry if that miss-led you. What I meant is that I am healthy, but still there are challenges to trying to go to school while raising kids, and one of my kids has cf. Sorry for the confusion!!!

 

[Samsmom]

To Sakasuka and Kelli, No I do not have cf. Sorry if that miss-led you. What I meant is that I am healthy, but still there are challenges to trying to go to school while raising kids, and one of my kids has cf. Sorry for the confusion!!!

 

[littledebbie]

I quit college but I wouldn't say it was ALL about my health.

Factors for me were that:
I was in a position where I needed to work and go to school. This is not unique I know but it's gruelling for healthy college students and I was obviously far from healthy. So there was that.

Also, I was not a big fan of the entire school thing anyway. I mean i was a good student, I just really hated - hated - hated it.

And I was not one who was all "yeah college this is the most awesome experience of my life, party all the time blah blah blah" I was more like..."hmmm if I work this many hours and then go to class these hours that leaves me this many hours to sleep and this much money for the month....joy." So that was not a big factor..the "fun" factor.

Also, my health sucked, well still sucks but I mean I was already under the 30% mark and in looking at my future and what was important for me to experience for me...i realised that I really wanted to get out on my own and support myself etc. So I got a REAL job, 40 hrs a week with benefits etc and got my own place etc. For me there was more "fun" factor in that.

I didn't realise it then but for me that worked out to be the best decision because that placed me in the work force earlier than college would have, which means I had more years paying into Social Security which will pay off for me if/when my disability ever gets approved, now that I am unable to continue working.

Anyhoo, thats my story.