Turns out this is the same certificate even retiring generals receive.

Photos:

Finished up my third semester at NYU two weeks ago. I thought it would be easier, since I only had two classes to deal with, but pediatrics was super difficult.

Fall, my final semester, will be a full load of five courses. At least I have a few more weeks of vacation to enjoy.

Received a certified letter last week from Bethesda. On July 15th, a Marine Corps Colonel and two Navy officers met in Washington, DC and determined that my “disposition be changed from temporary to permanent disability retirement.”

I sent in my acceptance yesterday, and sometime in the next 12 weeks I will be permanently retired!

Reported to Bethesda Naval Hospital as ordered for my the temporary disability retired list (TDRL) periodic physical examination (PPE) today. I was told to arrive at 7:15AM. As soon as I got there, I was checked in, and sent to the orthopedic department. After they took my vitals and a few x-rays of my hip, I was seen by a Navy Lieutenant Commander orthopedic resident. He asked me about my activities of daily living, pain, and plan for my hip. He then evaluated my range of motion and strength. After talking things over with a colleague, they decided that I’d never be able to be a Marine again, and that they would put in the paperwork for my permanent retirement. It’s still possible that the retirement board will disagree and I will have to report back to Bethesda in another 18 months, but hopefully not. I look forward to hearing their decision.

From the site:

A metal cup with a polyethylene liner that is inserted into the acetabulum during a total hip replacement.

Link: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/gec/series/fixing_hip_fractures

Had my last final of the Spring semester yesterday. I’m thrilled to be finished, this semester was a real killer. Summer will be nice, I only have 2 classes, which means I’ll have lecture two days a week, and will be working in the hospital 2 days a week. Two semesters down, two to go.

Received my first orders to appear for the temporary disability retired list (TDRL) periodic physical examination (PPE) this week.

I am to report to Bethesda Naval Hospital by the end of June 2010 to “determine any change in the condition for which I was placed on the TDRL.” As you may remember reading, those on the TDRL must be evaluated every 18 months in order to retain their pay and benefits. I’ll be scheduling my trip for the end of May, the only time I have off between Spring and Summer semesters. I’m actually looking forward to it. Unlike some civilian physicians, Navy physicians always appreciate the magnitude of my injury and seem to have a better understanding of my situation, though I’m not sure why.

The leg has been hurting more this past week or two, but it’s probably just from using it again. I’m planning on getting a referral to the Hospital for Special Surgery, where I will hopefully have my hip replaced in January 2011, right after I graduate. It should be a shorter recovery this time.

Even though I know it will be difficult to come to terms with replacement surgery every 10-15 years, I can’t deal with this pain, arthritis, and severely limited range of motion for too much longer.

After graduating from Emerson College in 2003, I distinctly remember saying on many occasions, that I would never go back to school. From my first meeting with the Marine recruiters in February ’05, I had planned on a career in the Marine Corps, up until I realized that dream was impossible. For months I struggled with the decision of which direction I wanted my life to go. Finally, in August of last year, I made my decision: I am going to be a nurse.

Since I didn’t take a single math or science course in my 4 years at Emerson (other than Psychology), I had to take quite a few prerequisites before I could work towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I started off with General Biology, Statistics, and College Algebra. Spring of this past year I took Anatomy & Physiology I, Chemistry, and Microbiology. Finally this summer, I took Anatomy & Physiology II, Food & Nutrition, and Psychology of Human Growth & Development.

I was accepted into New York University’s 15-month Accelerated Nursing Program, and this past June I moved to New York City. This is why I was so excited about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which should cover almost all of my tuition at NYU.

I start classes in less than two weeks. I’m a little nervous, but am mostly excited about starting this next chapter of my life. If all goes well, I’ll graduate in a year from Christmas.