My 13 yr old just had her 4th knee surgery for an injury from a fall at school in the 3rd grade. This was the worst of them all and she has has missed quite a bit of school because of it. Her original surgery date was postponed because of Hurricane Irene and since the week after school started her attendance has been a train wreck. I have been in close contact with her school throughout this, however we did not realize the severity of this surgery. She was in surgery for over 4 hours, during which time they did quite a bit of drilling, inserted a ligament and some screws so she is in a tremendous amount of pain, not to mention the amount of vomitting this poor kid has done because of the anesthesia and she has pretty much built up a tolerance to the pain medication they've had her on and won't give her anything else. She went to her orthopedic today and her plans of returning to school Monday were shot down. He originally wanted her out of school until Friday, but will be seeing her on Wednesday when he fits her for a brace so we shall see where things go from there. My question is that her teachers have all expressed their concern to me about my daughter's health and have told me over and over again that they will work w/her to get her caught up, however her principal is worried more about her absentism and state guidelines. When I spoke w/her guidance counselor today she presented the idea of homebound instruction but when I looked further into it, I don't belive my daughter qualifies because she won't be out long enough. Is there any other type of instruction that a school has to offer in this type of scenario? My daughter will be undergoing physical therapy, but I doubt she will have to be absent from school for 2 weeks. She has well exceeded that prior to the surgery, but I'm not sure if that would be considered. If any of you would be familiar with this, any knowledge you could pass my way would be greatly appreciated. As always, thank you for all of your help! Unfortunately my husband never wanted to seek legal action because he works for our town and was afraid to cause any friction, we also didn't think a fractured growth plate in an ankle would lead this far , but the important thing is doing what we can to protect her rights and most importantly taking care of her physically. Thanks again.
**Here it is Monday and I'm still awaiting a call back. I spoke with my daughter's guidance counselor Friday, but have been playing phone tag w/the principal. To date my daughter has been out three weeks so so the time requirement is met. As far as the responses, I appreciate the insight and am thankful that my daughter's injury was not as extensive as that of Kym's daughter, it sounds like that was a hard battle. It's understandable to have sensed that I may have been going through a similar situation, it is, but not nearly as severe. I hope that all is well w/your daughter now :)
Okay, so here we are 2 1/2 weeks later, thanks to the principal no home instruction ever took place while my daughter was out of school, but she is returning tomorrow and will be given 5 hrs by 2 teachers who are certified instructors. They did call on Friday and offer to make arrangements to come to our house, but it was already Friday afternoon and we had an appointment and hour and a half away so it wasn't doable. The two teachers will both be splitting the time up into 2 1/2 hrs so I'm not quite certain how they will get 20 days of missed classwork/homework into that period of time plus my daughter has a Section 504 from a blood trauma to her brain from a sleigh riding accident last February. I'm just going to do the best we can and try to keep her as calm. Our main focus is to get her back into the swing of things and she has been coming along nicely the past few days. It has been a struggle, she's been sleeping close to 20 hrs a day because of the pain medication and the new medication they have her on for her head injury. I just have to keep telling myself that it's going to get better and be there for her. She's a tough kid and I know she can do this, she just has to believe it herself.
***The main reason nothing was done w/the home instruction was b/c the principal dragged his feet completely and w/my husband working w/the town he didn't want to make waves by going to the Board of Education. I was a raving lunatic, I wanted to camp out on their lawn the first time he didn't return my call, but I have to choose my battles and this is not one that I will get anywhere with.
She should be able to do "independent study" for as little as 3 days missed, I'm surprised no one has mentioned this to you. She would receive her assignments, do them at home, and you turn them in to the school so her teachers can grade them. My daughter did this the year she was in 4th grade, as we had to take the week of Thanksgiving off. Ask the school on Monday so she doesn't get further behind.
Praying for her healing✿
Each state has guidelines for homebound instruction. I would look into it and if your daughter is eligible I would jumP at the chance as you do not want her to fall behind when she goes back. Especially if she
may have difficulties navigating around after the surgery. Often times the instructors can be her teachers. If she is not eligible maybe even getting a private tutor just to keep up.
Could you consider pulling her from public school for this year, and put her in cyber school? It sounds like you are a homemaker, so you would be home for this?
Please note, I said cyber school, and NOT home school. There is a difference! Home school is you doing the teaching. Cyber school is run by the public school system, and in Pennsylvania, ours is top notch---my kids did it last year. It has daily lessons, tutorials, videos, etc, along with teachers.
You can either have her sign in to classrooms each day, or have her do self paced, which seems like that would be more fitting to her needs. She could work when she felt up to it, and the days the pain is too much, she could get the rest she needs without the worry of missing a day-you just have to sign in, even if no work is done.
Our cyber school was also very interesting. The books were colorful and interesting (not always as important for older kids, but still makes it more enjoyable-my kids were in 6th and 10th), and there is online tutoring if needed, plus the school calls every two weeks to keep you updated on your child's progress.
I have no complaints whatsoever with our experience, and it is a fantastic alternative if for one reason or another-yours being your daughter's health-your child is struggling in public/private school.
My daughter had her right foot calcaneus and ligament repaired, and was scheduled to miss three weeks of school due to the metal brackets that kept her foot together, the doctors and I agreed the possibility of frequent movement and further injury from the other kids would make further difficulties. So she was homebound taught, and it was great, because she got better instruction than in the classroom, and the movement from going to PT was traumatic enough for her, due to pain. even going to the bathroom was a big deal. however, what I am going to say, might make you upset, however, I am straightforward and truthful so here goes... I am getting a sense that from your writing that there is a bit of underlying feelings from you that YOU, do not want to have to remain home and care for her, not saying ypur a bad or inconsiderate Mother, but, this additional care does place an additional burden upon you, and a small amount upon your hubby the breadwinner, since he has the city job, and in this economy employment is important. I know this additional care is alot for you the mother, and it seems there is little support for you, such as respite care support, to give you a break. You didnt say if you worked before, during or after the accident, and if you did this might have caused you to make significant changes in your lifestyle, goals, job wishes, and freedom. even if you didnt work, this care has placed an emotional burden upon you as the Mom, wife, caregiver, nurse, and teacher. it seems that you need to REALLY need to talk to your child's doctor to obtain more in-home support to assist you, such as a visiting nurse, home health aide, respite care, in-home PT/OT care, because if you have other kids, the care of these children, places alot upon you, and when homebound was mentioned, it seems as though you have reached the end of overcoping! it is OK to feel overwhelmed! I was on active duty, and had just entered into a new leadership role, over males, and the surgery was a load full! But, I had to really admit to myself and the doctor, I needed all the resources available! Since we were also pending deployment! Well, I talked to the school, and they got the best teachers for my daughter, the teachers helped with the things she had trouble with, and rebuilt her skills, they were successful in building her self-esteem, with the surgery, and mental status; the in-home therapies helped lessen the movement, until her bones were ready; and the respite care , wheeelchair, ramp, and other medical assistance equipment (insurance covered; doctor wrote scripts to obtain), took alot off me. My family was 3000 miles away. Friends helped with making short visits so i could tend to other issues that got me out of the house for 1-2 hours! mind freedom! as a Mom, we fret and worry when our kids are harmed, and it is stressful and depressing! I recommend that you that you consult a child psych doc to talk to your daughter, because this change does effect their mental health, which effects their ability to heal. I had one for my daughter, and we find out she was afraid, but, didnt want to worry me, because she overheard the talks I was having with others... Kids are sponges and they need a safe place to express themselves. sometimes Mom/Dad arent the answer, remember she is also undergoing puberty, friend loss, socialization, mobility, and pain... My background is medicine, so the ineffectiveness of the meds means there might be an underlying emotional issue, remember kids arent the best at expressing to parents, and the safe place gives her time to express her fears, and teach her positive mental reinforcement to change her mental thoughts to begin positive thoughts to heal. Have you ever considered accupuncture for pain relief? Honestly, the Chinese used this for 5000 years, and since I have chronic pain the use of accupuncture took me off the need for more potent pain meds. Yes, needles seem scary, but, they have very small needles, and they will hurt less than the current pain she feels... What she needs is to experience the positiveness of undergoing some REST, in order to heal, it seemed as thought, she or parents are forcing her to return into school, but, have you considered that she needs more time to rest? everyone heals differently, and rushing her doesnt seem to be the answer since she had so many surgeries, how would you feel, if you were a child? Put yourself in her place, including Dad... Afford her the time to heal, not only in body, but in mind and spirit... Don't rush so much, her body is trying to tell you something... setup play dates, beauty days where facials, toe nail painting from friends and giggles, where the plan... remember schools are crowded, imagine trying to manuever halls, events on crutches, and kids can be mean, and bullying... In my opinion, I think homeschooling has more positive reinfocrements than just schoolwork, just give it a chance... in fact, my daughter ended up being far ahead of her class, when she ended... Her math skills were so improved she ended up tutoring others, when she returned in a cast! She made the Principal's list in her first quarter return... Now, she is pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering... so, talk to her teachers and get her the time she needs, it might make a positive differnce for everyone in your family, and her future.... Good luck!
What grade is she in?: I ask because in our area there's a huge difference between middle school and high school.
Do you know what your state's guidelines are? Do you know what your local BOE guidelines are? I would try to find out and go from there.
I can't tell you about homebound study but I can tell you about knee surgery's!!
I've had nine on my right knee since I was in High School. I spent my sophomore year on crutches...the thing they want to do now is replace my knee and to be honest - I'm a tad bit scared on that one...
I can understand her pain as well..I've had a tendon stapled to the bone to help it heal...menicus repaired and then removed, ligament sewn back together....
I wore a Don Joy brace my junior year...but thankfully was allowed to participate in swimming!! The Don Joy brace will allow her to function and to heal without further damage to the knee...
As to the teaching - I would be doing what I can to get the homework from the teachers and working with her at home...can you hire a tutor to help out? This will show that she is getting the instruction needed as well...
GOOD LUCK!!!
we've used homebound before & really liked it. Push the limits & don't cut yourself short in the minute details....if school's offering- take the tutor & run!
