Missing school question

[Mom2oneboy]

How much school has your child missed as a result of crohn's?

Because S is not in a good place right now I'm wondering if he will have to miss some school due to his belly pain and increased bms. Last year he had perfect attendance! He has only missed a couple of days this year when he had to have his perianal abscess drained in December. Hoping to get things settled down soon so he doesn't have to miss any more.

What about your kiddos?

 

[imaboveitall]

V missed 36 days the first year, and 35-40 each subsequent year, from dysautonomic, not Crohn's, symptoms. Still had all A's and in the 95th percentile on standardized tests.
This year she has been on homebound tutoring since Dec.
If her chronic fatigue doesn't let up, she'll go back in the fall with a 504 and a wheelchair to navigate the halls; she just can't walk long nor stand long at a time.

 

[Twiggy930]

My son has not attended a full day of school since January 26.

I find this one of the most stressful parts of him being sick, knowing when to send him to school and when to keep him home and how hard should I push him to go. We have been taking work home and keeping up that way but I would really rather he be at school. This is compounded by the fact that this school year, prior to him getting sick, we put him in a very expensive private school as a result of him having mild dyslexia. So now we are paying for school that he isn't even going to! :hallo3:

I have my fingers crossed that today will be the day he makes it the whole day.

 

[Tesscorm]

Stephen missed quite a few days (10-15 days, sporadically) prior to diagnosis just from not feeling well, fever, etc., then a week in the hospital and another week at home.

When he returned to school, I met with his teachers, principal and guidance and made arrangements over what he had missed and what he could reasonably catch up. Once they were aware of the situation, they were very accommodating and helpful.

 

[Mom2oneboy]

Poor V! I have noticed your signature before and finally looked up dysa. I wonder if LDN would help with that too?

Twiggy, praying that today is the day he makes it all day!!

S loves the social life of school so I think it would be really hard if he wasn't able to attend for a length of time.

 

[kimmidwife]

This year until January and our new treatment Caitlyn missed at least 2-3 days per week. I agree it is hard to know when to make them go or not but our experience has shown that Caitlyn tries very hard to go when she can and is honest with us about when she does not feel up to it.

 

[Devynnsmom]

Devynn has missed quite a bit of school through the years. She's in grade 5 right now and prob misses somewhere around 5-10 days a month. This has prob been her best attendance year yet.

 

[MomofIBD's]

No days lost this to CD. But last year Daniel lost 30 days about & was late to school as many days for his CD & related issues! He did really well in school but not as good as HE wanted to!

 

[Dexky]

Other than Dr. appts., EJ rarely misses school. He quickly responded to his meds and has probably had fewer sick days than the average.

 

[dannysmom]

Danny(15) is undiagnosed, but has been on home instruction for more than 3 years now . He is still at grade level ... but not in accelerated classes anymore since last year he was not even able to complete soem classes due to excessive fatigue and headaches. He is normally the class clown and misses school greatly.

 

[Catherine]

Until this year Sarah would have missed five days at most per year.

This year she has missed 9 days of a seven week term. She term holidays start on Friday (two week off). We hoping for a better second term.

Sarah need a 90% attendence rate to pass the year. So we need to keep on top of the medical certificates.

 

[Mugs5]

from 6th grade until the day I graduated my 12th year the average missed days was 35 days per school year due to Crohn's. The fatigue and inability to walk from our front door to end of driveway to catch the bus made every day a struggle. This started in 1981 and I was very lucky to have the school faculty 100% on my side and so supportive.

 

[izzi'smom]

at least 20 since Sept between appts and malaise/fatigue/illness.

 

[DustyKat]

Sarah missed quite a bit of school pre diagnosis and in the initial period post diagnosis. She was in Year 9 at the time. Once in remission though her absences were occasional due to poor sleep...toilet visits.

Matt did not lose many days at all. He had few symptoms at diagnosis and then most of his hospital admissions fell when he was on holidays.

Sarah need a 90% attendence rate to pass the year. So we need to keep on top of the medical certificates.

Catherine, have you spoken with the school about Sarah and her illness? They cannot enforce that high of an attendance rate when she has a chronic illness and you should not have to produce a medical certificate for every absence under those circumstances. Examinations yes but not normal school days.

What year is Sarah in?
When she is in Year 12 and if she intends on going to university are you aware of the EAS (Educational Access Scheme)? If not have a look at this...

http://www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/eas/

Dusty. xxx

 

[Catherine]

Sarah in year 11 and doing one year 12 subject. Have spoken to the school, the problem is vce requirements for attendance. She is allowed to miss 9 periods of any subject per unit or half year without certificate and for sac you need a certificate. The school said there is some led way, but at this time of year best to have certificates.

 

[Catherine]

The school will help us apply in year 12.

 

[Jenn]

Was thinking that Alex doesn't miss much school, but there have been a lot of times that he did last year - for dx testing, remicade treatments, doctor appointments, a round at the hospital to start IV antibiotics. Generally, he doesn't feel bad while we've got it under control. Although he missed a baseball game yesterday with his foot hurting, out of the blue. He goes most days and the teachers so far have been really supportive/communicative about catching up on missed work.

 

[Twiggy930]

I tried to push my son a bit harder to stick out the full day of school yesterday and it was a big mistake. He stayed but looked TERRIBLE when he got home and was very upset. Today he came home at 11:30. I think most of the academic subjects are done in the morning so I am going to try just sending him for half days for a while.

 

[ChampsMom]

Alex missed more than 8 weeks of school during the "year of discovery/diagnoses" - that was 7th grade. He missed the entire 3rd and 4th quarters and end up finishing the year through the County's Home & Hospital Program. (HHP)

He started 8th grade with the intention going full-time back to school. However, by the middle of the 2nd quarter he had already missed more than 15 days - it was our pediatrician (who is in our County) not the GI (who we go into the city to see) who said, "Why stress about this, let's home school him." And he filled out the paper work to put him back on the HHP.

When we went in over the Summer he asked Alex what he wanted to do for 9th grade - Alex asked if he could continue on the HHP and his doc said absolutely - and to let him know IF and when he wanted to return to the classroom. He (the pediatrician) sees a *real* connection between stress and flare ups. Alex is growing, eating, and doing great - he see no reason to jeopardize a good thing - in his (the docs) opinion - If it's not broke, why fix it.

Alex is taking all honors classes, is carrying a 4.0 GPA and studies at HIS pace doing any where between 2 to 3 subjects per day. A teacher comes in at least twice a week to help him with core subjects and to mentor him (he shows up at Alex' hockey games and has truly taken a interest in his success - it's awesome!!).

There often seems a big push to keep the kids in school - but when and where possible (and by ensuring other activities are available) home-schooling is really great.

Through our Church we have a program we call "Seminary" - it is a Bible Study Class for high school students. In our area, the kids go in the morning before regular school starts (6 to 7 am) - Alex participates in that (about 32 kids there), he's involved with Scouts and our young men's program at Church (about 20 boys there), he plays ice hockey, goes to church dances, and is a baseball umpire for our local youth organization - so plenty of time for "socialization" that people fear that kids who are homeschool miss out on.

(Always feel like I'm on a soap box about it - but the questions I get often show a fear to do it - my feelings "try it - you'll love it.")

Good luck!

 

[momoftwinboys]

Knock on wood..Hunter has not missed very much school other than dr appts and testing. He missed a couple of days recently with a stomach bug.

 

[S mom]

My son missed nearly 3 months of school last semester (almost every day from Sept to Dec) as he was diagnosed/treated. He's in grade 11. The school was fantastic once I went in (at the beginning of the year) and explained what was happening. They organized for him to get his credits by working mainly from home and just coming in from time to time to pick up new assignments. A friend helped him keep up in Math (he ended up with the highest math mark in his year - hee hee). I was really impressed with the guidance department... and they continue to be supportive now that they know this is long term and things could change on a dime.
I have to add that it was such a weight off our shoulders (both me and my son!) when the pressure to attend was taken off him - he relaxed and could work when he felt like it.
He now appears to basically be in remission and has only missed one day since Jan. for a regular follow up GI appointment - phew!

 

[Saphira]

Up until last year Brandon only missed about 2 weeks a year and kept his grades up. In 5th grade this year he missed 19 days in the first quarter. Began failing, not able to keep up with the assignments. Mind you he is about as unorganized as you can get. We now have a 504 plan so they can give him shortened or less assignments, we have books at home, and the teacher emails us assignments at home. The problem is when he is sick he is tired and reall has trouble catching up. He was tested for gifted despite falling grades and is now in the gifted program part time, which he enjoys.
I sometimes wonder whether to make him stay longer or just bring him home. It is a strain because my husband and I both work with no family here, so if he comes home one of us has to take time off.
The decision of taking him out is always difficult. Today he came home at 11:30 with neck and stomach pain, and he missed his gifted class so it must have been bad for him.
I feel for the other parents out there who have to make decision about school. Definitely look into a 504 plan.
Trina