<p>I'm new to this site. My son, truly brilliant student, is having a recurring medical issue. His college 'path' is a little broken in that he has had to take two (2) medical leave of absences already. He has times where he's okay, but then he'll become ill again, and it looks like we're potentially looking at a third MLOA. </p>
<p>I want what's best for him and his health, but his father and I are absolutely horrified that he's going to end up getting removed from his program due to his ongoing health issues, and I know that's something he will not be able to recover from so easily.</p>
<p>Hi! Sorry to hear that things are so rocky for your S. Have you & S conferred with his disabilities office? They are sometimes able to make some great suggestions as they have probably worked with other kids to have medical/disability issues and like all their students to succeed.</p>
<p>MY kids have chronic health conditions that disrupted their HS education a lot and we have been working with the college disability offices to help them have the best possible options and experiences with their recurring medical issues. SOme schools are MUCH more flexible and willing to work with students than others.<br>
Some schools have on-line options and will allow students to cut back & take lighter semesters and work over the summer after taking an incomplete or other options. If your child's school is inflexible, it may not be the school for him, unfortunately.<br>
(That was what we looked at in helping choose our kids' college--we wanted schools that at least verbally committed to working with the student and family to make things work out.)</p>
<p>midwestmomof3, your son’s health is of primary importance--don’t be horrified about his potential removal from the program. His educational path may end up being a little convoluted, but in the long run that will not really matter. Just get him well. I agree with HImom: Speak to someone at the school, if you haven’t already. Several years ago, my son struggled with a debilitating chronic illness, and the administration at both his high school and his college were responsive and accommodating. It was not an easy time, but we got through it. I hope your son is better soon. Take care (and welcome to CC).</p>
<p>I'm so sorry that your son has to deal with this.
Be sure to get documentation from everyone he deals with on campus (medical, disabilities office, etc.) Print out every email.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. I worry about him a lot because he's such a "Type A" that he'll try to do this when he's sick and he'll get himself worse. I cannot, of course, 'tell him what to do' (he is of age and his scholarships are independent of our family income), so unfortunately I feel if he has to make some decision as to whether its the program or his health... </p>
<p>We're trying to find him treatment that will actually 'fix' some of these issues, as the last two times didn't really help but for a few months. His health insurance is provided for by the school, and luckily, they have kept him enrolled over his last MLOA. </p>
<p>Be sure to talk with as many of the pertinent deans and administrators as possible. The more you keep everyone in the loop on this, the more everyone can work together for him. If he does take a MLOA, stay in touch with them and update periodically on how he is doing. Find out how he can stay with his program, or how he can rejoin it when he is able. I'm a big fan of asking for a lot of help. Good luck, and I wish him well.</p>
<p>I agree that communication is KEY, though it can be challenging to get our kids to take the initiative at times. I go thru this with our kids as well and they put forth varying degrees of energy in communicating with faculty.</p>
<p>Good luck! Things do have a way of working out--sometimes not in the ways we expect, but sometimes in the ways they are intended.</p>
<p>I don’t see how they can kick him out of a program because he has a chronic illness. My daughter is at an Ivy, where she has already had two medical leaves. She is on reduced course load with accommodations, and was told that financial aid will cover the extra time. The accommodations required at the college level are less stringent than at the high school level, but I cannot see how a school could get away with forcing a student to leave for good, legally. Maybe you could explain what this means exactly.</p>