Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson. I am writing to request?to drop some of the courses I took ending in Winter-Fall of 2022 due to extreme unknown health conditions, that developed into mental health concern. The courses I am looking to drop are STAM200, PHGY216, DEVS100 in winter 2022, PHYS118, BCHM218 in summer 2022, PHGY170 and ANAT100 in fall 2022. I want PHAR100 in fall of 2022 to not count towards GPA. In late winter?of?of?2022?I began vomiting uncontrollably, leading to severe dehydration. I originally thought that it was a stomach illness, but soon realized it was not as it did not go away. I was in the hospital every day or so, begging for medical help as I was bedridden from illness. I did not eat for three weeks outside of food the hospital provided?when I visited, and?Gatorade. I had blood taken over ten times within a month, urine samples, two pap smears, an ultrasound, multiple x-rays, and nothing came back positive. I was bedridden until mid-May of 2022. I was so ill that I did not have enough strength to go on my phone and call my parents, let alone do schoolwork. I?was in the hospital between 10-12 hours a day with no access to technology or outlets. I contacted Laurie Hook, who was a blessing and assisted?in what I could do ?? where she recommended a late drop. I slept between 14-16 hours a day including being at the hospital and lost 22 pounds in four weeks. I began to become very mentally unwell as it was supposed to be an exciting time?of my life (I had just opened a business, got my first apartment) but was unable to move or get out of bed. This prohibited me from doing almost any schoolwork. The hospital began to think it was a stomach parasite but could not get me in for a day surgery scope until September of 2022. I began to feel better and thought doing summer courses would help boost my grades since spring grades were so poor ?? but fell ill in June again after thinking I was better. It was every day?of vomiting everything I ate, sleeping non-stop, and begging our medical system to help me ?? but I continued to get false diagnoses of UTIs and stomach bugs. Due to the extended amounts of hospital visits, dehydration, and how mentally unwell I was - I could not function to do school. I began to feel better but experienced a deep?level of anxiety, depression, and PTSD from my unknown illness. I had to seek out counselling professionally in June and July 2022. I was non-functional, and every time I sat down to do school, ended up running to the washroom and vomiting so much I would faint and need to be taken to the hospital for dehydration. The mental illness continued from what I had experienced ?? and the idea that I knew I could no longer be a doctor due to my terrible grades, I faced a lot of mental difficulty. I felt so ill and?could not focus let alone do schoolwork. I was more focused on the non-stop medical testing and hospital trips. In September of 2022, I was able to start seeking counselling through Queen??s and private counselling through my doctor and the government program 686868 for mental health talk. I was still experiencing vomiting and dehydration heavily in the fall of 2022 and severe mental health concerns from flashbacks of how ill I was previously. I was able to work on schoolwork?more, communicated?with professors, and was able to pass 3/5 classes from fall term.?I passed PHAR100. I got an IN for MICR270 and PSYC236 and just finished course work for PSYC (he will release the grade this week or so) and am almost done MICR270 work. PSYC236 professor states I did make a strong effort to finish his class. I was better, but still not great to finish all of my courses.?My doctor and I recently discussed the mental health implications I now experience,?and I was able to enroll in OSAP as a student with a verified disability, due to how much anxiety and PTSD I have from 2022. I recovering?and am?on track to pass my courses. They did diagnose me with ??probable parasite? as I did have symptoms of a parasite being on my stomach lining ?? but it cannot be confirmed. I was unable to do school during a lot of this time?simply due to extended hospital days, fainting, my body falling so ill i?could not function, and following my medical concerns severe mental health issues. I am continuing to recover but was unable to do the best in all of?my courses due to what was occuring?medically with myself last year. I am taking steps to recover daily, such as registering with QSAS to ensure I have support, seeking counselling (I have seen Emily Black through Queen??s and also?686868 free youth counselling), and am communicating with my professors. This past year was incredibly difficult?and I was very unwell physically. I??ve also been in touch with academic advising through zoom drop in 30 minute appointments. I have also been in contact with Laurie Hooke and she wrote a letter in support.