Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean (Studies):

I am respectfully requesting to appeal for credit standing in Anatomy 101, Economics 112, and Mathematics 126. I am requesting this appeal to be put into place in regards to the 2014 Winter semester. Of note, I am registered at the Queen¿¿s Disability Services Office and have an accommodations letter.

I struggle with two medical conditions as well as related adverse effects: Crohn¿¿s Disease and Major Depressive Disorder.

For my Crohn¿¿s Disease, I am on an off-label medication called Stelara, which is typically prescribed for treatment of plaque psoriasis. I have tried every other medication possible for Crohn¿¿s Disease but either had deleterious side effects or limited efficacy. Since being on Stelara, which is an immunosuppressant, I often succumb to viral infections. Of note, I was ill with a viral infection during my Economics 112 final exam in April 2014, followed by another viral illness, just two weeks later, which persisted until the end of May. Due to being on my immunosuppressive medication, I cannot fight off infections quickly and this pattern of illness is typical for me. In addition to having increased susceptibility to contracting viral illnesses, I also suffer from iron-deficiency anemia, which has only recently been stabilized. I also suffer from constipation, chronic fevers, as well as persistent gastrointestinal discomfort.

Although I started suffering from depression in the beginning of the Fall 2013 semester, I was only diagnosed with Major Depression in December 2013. I did not respond to treatment right away, however, and dosage adjustments on my first antidepressant medication were necessary. I still have not reached a therapeutic dosage of medication needed for my depression due to adverse side effects. Because of a less than optimal treatment for my depression, as well as my other illness, I have not been fully functional. Of note, as of today, March 19, 2015, I have just been started on a new antidepressant medication, which will be my third antidepressant trial.

Another issue which has plagued me during this entire time period has been significant hair loss resulting from Crohn¿¿s Disease medication. The hair loss has been an ongoing issue for me since January 2013. As a young woman, this has been a devastating issue for me and has had negative effects on my self-esteem. The Winter 2014 semester was a period of marked hair loss. Losing my hair had interfered with my ability to concentrate and study effectively.

As a consequence of suffering from Crohn¿¿s Disease, Major Depressive Disorder, as well as various resulting side effects, I did not do as well as I could have in these classes. Having been so overcome by my own health issues at that time, I did not fully investigate or understand the various options that were available to me to rectify the issues pertaining to my academic progress and success.

As I have stated earlier in this appeal letter, this frequent pattern of illness is typical for me. Although I put forth a complicated health scenario with no simple answers, I do want to stress that I am a young woman with dreams and would respectfully ask that you work with me, so that I, despite my illnesses, can do my best to achieve my full potential.

As a future plan, I will continue to work closely with my Gastroenterologist in a proactive way. I plan to continue working with my Psychiatrist to achieve an optimal dosage of my new antidepressant medication. I have purchased both hair extensions and a wig to help cope with the hair loss. With these personal adjustments, I am more comfortable and capable of succeeding as an undergraduate student at Queen¿¿s University.

Thank you very much for your time, patience, and consideration.


Respectfully,

Danielle Palmer