Yesterday's appointment went well. I've been reading a lot these past couple of days...trying to drill down on some better specifics of his condition and potential outcomes. I spoke with the doctor about what I'd been reading, and he agreed with what I'd found in relation to my son's condition (whew!), of course, that is based only upon statistics and general data. The cardiologist could take a look-see and we could get some very different results. But, right now, at this point in time, it looks like DS should be cleared for all activities (some caveats...watch your heart rate, possibly take a day off between training sessions, etc.) until his surgery. It also sounds like he may only need 1 week to recover vs. 6 months. That is all tentative. Praying for closer to the best case scenario, though. It's strongly in his favor that he's never fainted (or nearly fainted), that he hasn't felt sick or "off" during practice (just the more rapid heartbeat -- although even that hasn't passed 210, and apparently he's considered okay as long as his resting rate is less than 220? Wow.) Just over a week and we'll be in the office on the next step. I have all of his referral letters, medical records going back to babyhood, EKG, new patient forms for the cardiologist in my folder (which goes with me on the plane...and does not leave my sight). Now we wait.

The waivers seem a bit like bird shot to me right now ;) . Which is why the gap year sounded like a viable option. At least the medical issues would pretty much be off the table. But the forums seem mostly negative on that option. I guess I've been looking at it from the angle of -- why would someone apply one year, and then take a gap year and reapply to try to get in? If DS gets one of these other scholarships (or a combination of scholarships) at schools that will take him next fall -- I'm pretty certain he won't be looking at changing to SA or NROTC in fall of 2019. I'm looking at all of the time invested in the application process to numerous schools that would require that waiver, and wondering if the crap shoot is worth it. But in the end, this is all his decision. BONUS: I've learned that I may have to prove that none of my kids have asthma, because they all have been prescribed an inhaler at one point, should they decide to try the SA or ROTC route, and oldest DD will need to have a RAST done regarding her Oral Allergy syndrome to prove it's not an actual allergy. I talked to my son at length a bit yesterday about NROTC and SA options, and he does not want to exclude them from the application process. We're feeling a bit better after his doctor's visit yesterday -- but only the cardiologist can really tell him what he wants to hear! The positive medical opinion is nice, but it is given without confirming diagnostics, so he'll remain out of the pool (much to his chagrin) until the cardiologist rules on the matter. I'm much more relaxed about his diagnoses. Trying to figure out which colleges to take our of our trip, and which ones to keep is my biggest hurdle right now. We didn't have a huge list of schools to begin with. We need to leave the three schools he can attend without NROTC or competitive scholarships (only one cracks his top 5 choices).

Only two more days of testing, and we are DONE for the year (nothing Friday here). Then it's justvpack, clean and LEAVE!

I guess the bigger question in all of this mess is what is "fully vaccinated?" My kids cannot attend the DoDEA school without a Flu vaccine (or a religious waiver), even though that is still considered optional by the Navy. Even within the G-8 the number of vaccines between the US (49) and Italy (32?) can vary wildly. If Germany only requires 5 doses of MMR and the US requires 6, is that a disqualifying reason for entry to the US? Is Japan's vaccination schedule correct? or should the world be following more closely to the US number? Is there any body of work that says 49 doses is superior in disease prevention and herd immunity than 30? For me, it's not a question that vaccines work -- but I have this nagging doubt that more vaccines (let alone more combo vaccines) are better. My kids are all fully vaccinated (for mandatory vaccines). Each one was vaccinated on a different schedule (youngest was most closely vaccinated on-schedule, but we still delayed vaccines until 6mos.) It seems resistance to vaccines grows as the number of *required* vaccines grows. Would there be less resistance if we reduced the number of required vaccines?

Heading back to the Navy Doc for more today. He called me late afternoon yesterday and asked that I bring my son back for more evaluations. In other news, we fly out of here in one week! Son is struggling a bit now that he knows (in no uncertain terms) he can't train until after we see the cardiologist in 10 days. I'm hoping that the medicine will be an option, so that he can get back to training while he finishes up the tests and waits for the surgery. Of course, I have to look up those medicines and see if using them will disqualify him from the military...such fun.

So, it looks like a GAP year will not effect his NCAA eligibility. From the "Guide...." from NCAA eligibility website: Q: delay full-time collegiate enrollment and participate in organized competition? "Must enroll full time at a college or university during the first regular academic term that occurs following the one-year period after high school graduation or will lose one season of intercollegiate competition for each calendar year during which you continue to participate in organized competition."

His choices in Fall of 2019 vs. 2018 might only change with respect to qualifying medically for NROTC and Service Academy Selection. All of the automatic scholarships remain in tact. The question is the competitive scholarships/NROTC/Service Academy selection -- what happens to those? Prior to this issue, we were fairly comfortable with both NROTC scholarship (4years) or selection to at least one Service Academy, plus opportunities with competitive and automatic scholarships. Now, the only opportunities we are certain of are those with automatic academic scholarships, and the competitive scholarships. I have no idea how the competitive scholarships might be affected by a GAP year. In short...all I know is that his opportunities with 3 schools are unchanged with or without a GAP Year. His opportunities at 12 others hang in the balance. Of those 12, most involved winning some sort of competitive scholarship (school, Service Academy or NROTC).

Sebastian -- I think you nailed how I'm feeling right now. If we do this, it could hurt THAT -- but if we don't do X, Y is impossible. I'm creating an account on the service academy forums now. And here I was worried about getting asthma (which he has never had any issue with) waived...my concern is that say he does have the most mild form of non-reactive asthma in the world (in all seriousness, the symptoms he's experienced that could be attributed to either asthma or vocal cord dysfunction, or even his heart condition!!! Have never landed him anywhere near a hospital), adding this newly diagnosed heart condition to asthma (of any kind) just seems like a steep hurdle to climb. His "gap year" wouldn't be devoid of academic pursuits -- just of official ones. But, the "non-official" nature may not be enough. Even if it is using MIT open courseware (the scholar courses), as well as continued work in foreign language, job, leadership (Venturing, Scouts, OA, Asst. Coach), it may not be considered enough. Then you have the competitive academic scholarships (I'm pretty certain he has a really good shot at a few of these for fall of 2018), will those disappear with a Gap Year? Unfortunately, the schools he has the best academic scholarship money available also have no swimming programs available (not even club). Only one school both has a strong academic scholarship he could compete for AND a swimming program that's recruiting him. BUT, that school's engineering program is in it's first year (starting this fall), or he can do a 3-2/4-2 there. So, he could wind up going free for 4 years, but then 100% out of pocket for the 2 years required to get his engineering degree, and then OOP more (possibly) for his masters. No easy solutions.

Yes, we already have our NCAA number/paid for him. He wouldn't be competing in USASwimming or a FINA approved group. ESFL is more like a recreational league, while we follow USA Swimming rules, we aren't sanctioned by USA Swimming or FINA. I'll look into the NCAA stuff once we're stateside. I may need to call and speak to an actual person. No decisions have to be reached now (thankfully). Once we have more information, we'll take it to the coaches and administrators and see where we are. Still gathering information -- but this is very good information to have! Thank you.

He will be 18, as long as he is not in Europe, we won't be responsible for him. Could make insurance a bit more difficult, since he's not living with us, and wouldn't be enrolled full time (might not make a difference, either). My family is still in the DC area. I know he wouldn't be able to assist with his old team back home (at least, not the year-round team, have to be a college swimmer). Travel in Europe from Naples is cheap...not so much in the states (Fly round-trip to Paris for 100 euro...). He could possibly do an informal (un-paid) internship with the engineering department here -- but most internships are looking at college students. It's still worth exploring a bit while we're home. He could also still participate in Venturing and OA activities, and be an Asst. Scoutmaster here. His desired major is Mechanical Engineering/Robotics... he could probably also help out with the elementary Robotics Club here. I know the high school CompSci/Engineering/Robotics instructor wouldn't mind him being there to help out, either.

Well...since we're in Italy, he probably wouldn't be hiking the Appalachian Trail ;) Around here, it would look like: *Work as a Lifeguard *Assistant Coach for the Swim Team *Swim on the Team (he can swim on our team at 19) *Possibly tutor in the Robotics/Computer Lab *Take a few courses via Coursera (et. al.), math/physics/robotics *Work on his Photography and Film interests *Participate in the Community Theatre *Travel (with the team, or his dad to Germany, Norway, Greece, Spain, France...) He currently would be down to 7 schools (with 5 of those being only viable winning a very competitive scholarship). I'll have to review those scholarships again and see if those opportunities would "die out" with a GAP year. I'm not sure what an extra high school year would do for him...not sure we can do that at this point with NCAA. So many questions to answer!! He wants to be done with high school (and I can't blame him). Most likely, he should be back to normal activities before we return to Italy. His heart condition is not currently so severe that it limits his ability for academic work. Of course, that could change. But the main reason for the GAP year would be for ROTC/Service Academy selection. In the end, it will wind up being his decision.

I believe so... I don't think we have to kick him off our insurance. But, we better check on that! I don't think he really *wants* a gap year. I think he'd prefer to go off to college. Just means having to cast a wider net and a lot of competitive scholarship applications, and his top 2 schools are off the list.

I expect my kids will all take Biology and Integrated Physics and Chemistry at an honors level. Beyond that, the courses (which ones and how many) will vary based on my kids' interest. My oldest son will have had: Integrated Physics and Chem, Hon. Bio., Hon. Chem, Hon. Physics, AP Physics C (both courses) My oldest daughter will have had: Integrated Physics and Chem, Hon. Bio, Hon. Chem., AP Bio, AP Physics C (both courses), Marine Biology, Organic Chem, A&P, and Microbiology My younger son will have had (or is planned to take): Hon. Bio, Hon. Integrated Physics and Chem, AP Chem, and AP Bio, Physics (not sure which courses yet). He may take some more, but his future aspirations change daily....doctor one day, Graphic/Game Designer the next ;) We shall see. So, I guess you could say my philosophy is to hit all of the basics (Bio/Chem/Physics), but what that looks like for each child may differ somewhat. My next child isn't driven academically much at all -- but I'll still push her to a challenging level, and she will still take high school science starting in middle school. I don't know that she'll take any AP science at all. My youngest is still too young to tell. My oldest two started with Integrated Physics and Chemistry and then took Biology. My younger son flipped those two -- because he had a very strong interest in biology (he's 13, and getting a solid A in the course). We also switched the IPC course we'll be using for him, which will give a stronger foundation and possibly allow him to skip into an AP level of Physics and/or Chem when the time comes. We went with Physics C for the oldest two because they will definitely have the math background to handle it -- AND, it's what the colleges they are applying to are looking for in their area of major. So, I guess I would say math ability, interest and future plans all play into how we've selected science sequences. I'm a lot less wed to a particular path now than I was when oldest was 13...but I also learned a lot along the way :D

I posted on the General forum about my son being diagnosed with Wolff Parksinson White Syndrome two days ago. On it's face, this is a disqualifying heart condition for NROTC and the Service Academies. Because of the type of symptoms he's experienced (and those he has not), we are very hopeful that his condition can be treated and "cured" with the ablation surgery. However, he has to be symptom free 2 years before he can be cleared by MEPS. He is currently being recruited to swim at one service academy, the same one his father graduated from. His chances there were very good. His chances at two other schools, where he would attend NROTC were also very good. Since we still know so little about his condition, I haven't mentioned any of these hiccups in his college plans (or even that he might not be able to swim at all this summer) to him. I figure there is no point tipping that cart until we have all of the relevant information -- but it is pretty hard having him chat on as if we'll head into the cardiologist's office in 2 weeks and he'll be good to go! If only things could be that easy! So -- while I can't have these discussions with him now, I want to be prepared should they need to come up. Without surgery, it looks like DS can afford to attend 3 colleges -- maybe 6, if he gets some additional outside scholarship money. None of those are schools he would probably be able to swim for (don't have a men's team, or any team, or he may not be fast enough to walk on) Would a gap year be a horrible suggestion? So that he could apply for entrance to the service Academies, and his other top choice schools the following year? This will ultimately be his decision -- but if a Gap Year wouldn't really matter for NROTC or the Service Academies, I kind of want to know that, too. I'm just feeling things out right now...because there isn't much more I can do than wait.

Most likely, we will go for the ablation. But, what his future looks like will change a bit. I won't know more until the 19th. I wish it could have been the 17th, but the 19th is better than the 26th. I'm glad we found it before he was a lot worse, or had an "attack" pool-side. After we see the cardiologist, we'll know what we can say to the college swim coaches, and what college opportunities still exist, what taking a "gap year" might do to change things. My head is still spinning a bit -- and while I'd like to KNOW everything now, that is just not possible. I have to wait. One test, one doctor's appointment at a time. Facebook taunted me this morning with a 4-year old photo of my then 13 year old son posing in his USNA t-shirt with a huge grin on his face. :(

Part of me is kicking myself for not getting the EKG a couple of months ago -- but considering we would still have to wait about 2 months for the referral to the pediatric cardiologist, it all worked out a bit better. A 2 week wait vs. an 8 week wait. I know going to a pediatric cardiologist sounds really weird with a 17yo, but the adult cardiologist would not touch him -- I called a highly recommended cardiologist first, they asked his age and said "nope, let me get you a phone number." Moving in the thick of something like this -- I can only imagine. Who stays, who goes, the what-if game. It's a lot to take in. We've had some things happen, but this has been a real shock to the system. I'm sorry about your daughter. I feel for your family. I'm glad that most likely -- health wise -- everything will be okay for my son, and that it's not worse.

Kid thought he knocked the multiple choice section out of the park. Had a couple of spacey moments on the short answer, and the DBQ threw him (and apparently others) through a loop. Everyone in his test section answered the same question. APUSH. On the whole, he's happy with how he performed. Today is the SAT. 3 more APs next week.

I do, too. I'm sorry about your daughter! I think ponygirl would be crushed. Swimming is her happy place. LEGOManiac enjoys the thrill...but has so many other interests. DD breathes chlorine.

Eagle Court of Honor tomorrow for oldest. He was also nominated for Vigil Honor with the OA.

Yes. I read about this. I'm sorry about your son. The risks (at this stage are great)Which is why he won't be training, and why we changed our plans, so we could get in with the cardiologist at the first opportunity.

Thank you, Lanny. Since he's not 18 we have been referred to a pediatric cardiologist in northern VA. I know the cardiologist has privileges in about 10 hospitals, including Innova Children's. We also are receiving the phone number for a well known (internationally respected) cardiologist in Naples, because our landlord knows him. I'm hoping his condition is on the minor side. I haven't said anything to my son about anything regarding college opportunities. Right now, he's taking everything in stride, his heart will be fixed, and it's back to training for senior champs, next season, college NCAA champs and Olympic Trials in Omaha 2020! We'll cross the other bridges as they come.

DH has had multiple EKGs, and nothing amiss. My dad developed atrial fib out of the blue about 10 years ago. So...that's what has me thinking it's from my side.

I'm optimistic about his treatment, for the moment. But not about his swimming with one of the service academies (he has two interested, and a total of 4 letters thus far from interested schools, and six we'd like to see you if you can stop by) or getting an NROTC scholarship. From what I've been able to find, the potential to get a medical waiver for this condition is pretty much nill (won't have time post treatment). We know he won't get a swimming scholarship. Swimming was a hook, and his best chance to help get in, but ROTC/service academy was his financial path through. While all is not lost yet, it feels kind of bleak. But it could make great essay fodder. He still has his Eagle Scout Award, Vigil Honor with OA, National Honor Society, and hopefully a 1400 SAT tomorrow. Everything else is on hold until the meeting with the cardiologist. He's supposed to go to an elite swim camp in 4 weeks. But he's no longer cleared to swim. Visiting two of the service academies, andcolleges he can't afford to attend without NROTC just feels a bit pointless. I know in the larger scheme of things, this is a hiccup. Dreams die...and we get new ones. He's just been working so hard this year. The letters of interest were finally coming. The recommendations and nominations.... my heart just hurts now.

No, just referred to cardiologist today (appointment set upon our return). I know they will do a sonogram to check for thickening of the heart walls, and maybe something else, he is also having a pulmonary function test done (possibly next week).

LEGOManiac has been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a congenital heart condition. I don't know much beyond what the internet tells me. What threw me is that the Navy doctor treated it like less of a big deal than the asthma he's never had symptoms of (looking through his records, the peds doctor thought he had vocal cord dysfunction, which actually matches his symptoms -- whereas asthma never did. I'm not saying he didn't have asthma, just saying that's not what was causing his symptoms). So, we were supposed to be in one place, touring a college, getting acquainted with the swim coach, making plans, having fun -- and now, I'll be at the pediatric cardiologist praying we get some treatment that will at least allow him to continue swimming, even if all his other plans may be shot. Now, since this is a congenital disorder, I want to have all the kids tested (EKG), and myself. Pretty sure dh doesn't have it. Makes me a bit worried.