Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

I am petitioning to drop HLTH 315 from my Fall 2022 semester.

During the months of September 2022 onwards, I began experiencing several extremely distressing health related symptoms that progressed into an investigation for soft tissue cancer that continues to impact my functioning at present day. Over the course of these months, I have endured severe pain, malnutrition and subsequent fatigue, and indescribable amounts of stress as I am currently suspected to have 5 masses, presumably tumours, distributed in my joints and abdomen. One of these masses has caused a combined hip and femur fracture that has resulted in excruciating functional limitations and dependence on high doses of opioid pain medication. Understandably, the side effects of this medication have been another factor implicated in my inability to complete coursework, as they invoke significant drowsiness, disorientation, and other sedative like sensations. Furthermore, this health crisis has had adverse effects on my well-being as a whole and caused a progression of my diagnosed medical condition (currently documented with QSAS). This progression has included experiences such as increased incidence of joint dislocations and joint pain (to the point at which I now require reconstructive surgery), increased incidence of seizures, and worsened cardiovascular dysfunction with frequent syncopal episodes. Another implication of this progression involved the necessity for continuous travel between cities to attend appointments and see specialists, once again impairing my ability to succeed in my studies and contributing to stress and exhaustion.

I have attached receipt of my travels, some documentation of my online medical records, and will submit a letter from a member of my care team or my counsellor as soon as I am able to acquire one.

This progression in my health was unexpected and had severe implications that significantly altered my ability to prepare and succeed in this course, hence the appeal for a late drop. This course specifically constituted of several small evaluations spread out over the semester, rather than a few discrete ones, and as such it was much more difficult to keep up in the course (unlike the other two that I am currently enrolled in). Assignments began to snowball, and my existing QSAS accommodations simply could not keep up. Earlier in the semester it was believed that I would get better, and I did not want to take drastic action with a late drop until it was certain that there would be no chance at completing the course due to the circumstances surrounding my health.

In the upcoming weeks, I am set to have reconstructive surgery and an extensive appointment with my pain management team to create a plan that will allow me to remain functional for the Winter 2023 semester. Additionally, I am planning to regularly see a counsellor to aid in managing stress related to these events and ensure that my mental health is prioritized and does not interfere with school work.

Thank you for your time and consideration.