Crossing my fingers for DH...(long) UPDATED

[hopenotlost]

He grew up knowing he wanted to do/be two things:  First, he wanted to go into the Marine Corps.  Then, he wanted to become a cop.  He enlisted and went to basic shortly after high school graduation, and after four years he got out.  He would have stayed in awhile longer, but he hurt his hand, back, and knee while in, and they determined that he could no longer serve.  

So then he started applying at several police departments (both city police and county sheriff's department), and they would always give the job to someone who was either certified (saves them money on not having to send them to the academy!) or to someone who had a degree in criminal justice.  He then decided to use his Post 9/11 GI bill to get his education.  He has about 40 credits left to go before he complete's his bachelors degree.  

About a year and a half ago, he found out that to become a cop in the state of Iowa, you have to have 20/20 vision in BOTH eyes separately (with or without lenses or glasses).  I can't remember how he found out, or what made him get his vision checked for this, but he did.  He has a lazy eye, and had 20/90 vision in the affected eye, and 20/20 in the other.  When using his eyes together though, he has 20/30 vision.  I'm assuming it is because his brain depends heavily on the eye with 20/20 vision.  

Anyway, he went through a fairly new program that his eye doctor recommended, where he had to do this program on the computer.  Something about watching where dots were coming up.  I never really watched it, so I don't know what it all entailed.  His vision in the lazy eye went to 20/30 after six months of using this program.  Unfortunately, glasses or lenses will not increase it to the needed 20/20, though.  

At this point, he has put his dream of becoming a cop on the backburner, and decided to finish his degree, and then look at other avenues.  He can work for the FBI, DEA, and a few other agencies with his current vision, along with the police departments in about 32 other states in the US.  

There was a part-time police dispatcher position open, so he applied for it.  He has an interview tomorrow afternoon.  He has a regular full time job, but it's not one that he particularly enjoys, so I'm hoping that soon the part-time position will turn into a full-time position.  I'm also hoping that it will give him feel like he is part of the police department, and maybe he will enjoy it enough to stay in there, or give him more of a drive to apply for positions in the other agencies. 

Anyway, if you read this long novel, thank you!  I just needed to babble for a bit.  

UPDATE:  DH said the interview went really well and should hear Monday about it.  The initial training is about 40 hours per week for the first 6-8 weeks, so depending on when training starts, he may have to forgo school this fall semester.  I don't think working a full-time job, plus training 40 hours per week for another job, plus going to school full-time is the best idea.  I would say only take one or two classes, but the Post 9/11 GI Bill only covers 36 months worth of school, so he wants to take 5-6 classes per semester to get the most out of the benefits.

[Deleted]

Aw, hopenotlost my fingers are crossed for your H! What an amazing man to dream to serve his country / community.

[Deleted]

Good luck to him!

[Deleted]

Ooo, good luck Mr. hopenotlost !!!!

[jerseyjaybird]

Best of luck to your H!

[audette]

I hope he rocks the interview!

[dr.girlfriend]

Is surgery an option? For such a mild impairment it would not typically be recommended, but given the circumstances he may want to seek an opinion, preferably from a super-duper specialist (an Eye Institute if you have one in your area would probably be a good place to start). "Lazy eye" as a general term can cover a variety of conditions, but even if it's a strabismus or amblyopia or something, surgical correction of the muscles involved in eye movement may be an option.

Good luck to your DH!

[raangoli]

Good luck to your H!

[hopenotlost]

Jul 9, 2014 10:53:21 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Is surgery an option? For such a mild impairment it would not typically be recommended, but given the circumstances he may want to seek an opinion, preferably from a super-duper specialist (an Eye Institute if you have one in your area would probably be a good place to start). "Lazy eye" as a general term can cover a variety of conditions, but even if it's a strabismus or amblyopia or something, surgical correction of the muscles involved in eye movement may be an option.

Good luck to your DH!

According to the four different eye doctors out there, surgery won't help.

[hopenotlost]

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses! Update in the OP.

[Deleted]

Good update!  I hooe he gets it, and then you guys can figure out what to do re: balancing all his priorities.  My initial thought on that issue is to start off with a little less coursework, so he does well in the new program, given how important that is to his dreams....how exciting!