Yes, i'm exceptional!

[simplydorei]

So, i'm wondering if anyone here has knowledge or experience of the AF's 'Exceptional Family Member Program' (EFMP) or anything similar in other branches.

Basically, they've diagnosed me with a probable auto-immune disease that needs treatment overseen by a specialist on a monthly basis...and since the interior of Alaska is literally in the middle

Comments

[innocent_liar]

We're Army, but I'll tell you what our experience has been. My daughter was born while we were stationed in Italy. She has a condition called Arthrogryposis (I didn't know while I was pregnant) that causes her to need weekly occupational and physical therapy as well as visit with an orthopedic surgeon on a regular basis. Anyway...back to when she was born. We enrolled her in the EFMP program and got a 1 year compassionate reassignment from Italy to a place close to Boston. She had 2 surgeries while we were there. Our compassionate reassignment ended this last summer, and according to the EFMP program the Army can't send us somewhere where they don't have the care available to take care of her. SOMEHOW we end up in Alaska. The only orthopedic surgeon in the state does not accept TriCare. So, our only option is to be flown down to Seattle for her doctor visits. She does get OT here in Anchorage and we're working on getting PT going. It's honestly been a very annoying process. But I'm sure if you go somewhere other than Alaska you will have much more luck than we have had. :)

The process of getting into EFMP didn't take long as far as I remember. We were moved from Italy to Boston by the time she was 4 months old and in that time we had been to Germany and D.C. for specialists and stuff. We were pretty much able to choose where we went, we just found a doctor that we liked and then found the nearest base to it and requested it. I don't know if it's always that easy.

I don't know much about it affecting his career, I know my husband had to go off of airborne status because he was put in a non-airborne unit for our compassionate reassignment year. But he's back in airborne now what we are in Alaska.

Anyway, so that my (very long) story. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck!

[simplydorei]

Wow. Just wow...i'm so sorry to hear that! What an ordeal.

Thanks for all the details, though. It's good to know what has happened in other cases if for no other reason than to have some sort of parameter of expectations.

And i must say...your daughter is adorable! After that story, seeing that sunshiney smile just makes you feel better. (: