By Tara Boedigheimer
In 2011, when our son Drew was just two years old, we experienced every parent’s worst nightmare.
We were given the shocking and completely unexpected news, by a pediatric cardiologist, that our precious boy was critically ill with a very rare form of cardiomyopathy–and in need of a heart transplant. It was the only thing that could save his life. Not only that, he needed it immediately and the transplant program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital was very new and not approved by our insurance to handle Drew’s situation.
That meant we would need to relocate for up to a year while we waited for a heart, went through surgery and then recovery. We ended up traveling to Chicago that May, where Drew fortunately received the perfect matching heart and we miraculously only had to stay a total of four months and we were home by mid-September.
Drew is now ten years old, and over the past eight years, he has done remarkably well, with a few setbacks, but overall he has enjoyed a great quality of life and relatively good health. We knew from the beginning of this journey, it would be important to keep him away from germs and those who were ill, because the medications given to transplant patients suppress the immune system, and make one more susceptible to infection and illness. We made the decision to keep him out of preschool for that reason, and wondered what we should do about Kindergarten. Homeschooling was discussed, but the overwhelming thought of finding curriculum, staying on track, and developing a network of other families to connect with seemed so daunting, especially with everything else on our plate from a medical standpoint.
A friend recommended we look into “online public school,” so we tried the Embark Preschool Program offered by K12 and loved it. We figured kindergarten would be a similar concept and moved forward with it, figuring if it didn’t work out, we could always move Drew to a nearby private or public elementary school. Drew is now in the fourth grade and he loves his school, his classmates and his teachers. Arizona Virtual Academy has been wonderful and was the perfect choice for our family. We appreciate the excellent curriculum and that he is tested to the same standards as other children attending brick and mortar schools, and we know where he falls with respect to his peers. We also appreciate the ALP (Advanced Learner Program) offered to students who need a bit more of a challenge to keep them engaged. Drew has been a part of the program since Kindergarten and has been exposed to computer coding, app design and learned how to participate in group projects. In addition, he is able to have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) for any necessary accommodations, and he receives OT, PT and Speech through AZVA contracted therapists.
Last January, Drew had a serious medical issue that landed him in the ICU for 3 weeks. Of course we were worried about his recovery, but his biggest concern was missing school! It was such a relief to have the flexibility to get him back on track at our own pace, with the wonderful help of his teachers and other administrators at AZVA. When you have child with many medical, therapy, and other necessary appointments (all of which typically take place during the school day!) It’s wonderful to have the flexibility of online school to accommodate schedule interruptions.
Online school is such a wonderful option. We are grateful for AZVA and the support they have given our family through Drew’s preschool, kindergarten, and elementary years. We look forward to continuing with them for many years to come!
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