Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

a dream deferred

Three years ago, just before he was scheduled to start Air Force pilot training, my brother Ryan was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He spent six months in treatment for cancer -- followed by more than two years of wrangling with military bureaucracy to get back in the cockpit.

Before the diagnosis, Ryan had a clear path for his nascent career. The cancer had derailed that, though, and there was doubt that he'd be able to get back on the same track. He tried to be realistic about his chances of success, considering graduate school or another career field within the Air Force. But pilot training was the real dream.

He spent almost three years in an awkward limbo. He won over superiors and colleagues, consulted innumerable doctors, researched policy and similar cases, and doggedly made his case. Among the hurdles:

• Concern over one of the drugs used in his cancer treatment and potential long-term effects on lung function in a high-oxygen environment
• The (low) potential for cancer recurrence, and what might be considered an acceptable level of risk
• Precedent: Trained pilots had been allowed back to flying duty after being treated for Hodgkin's. But what about pilots who had not yet gone through that expensive training?

This fall, he submitted yet another appeal to return to flight school. This was his last shot -- a packet of recommendation letters and medical paperwork sent all the way up to the Pentagon.

Finally, earlier this year, the word came down: Ryan would have his slot.

And today was his first day of pilot training.

He's come full-circle -- though after this ordeal, he's a little older, a little wiser than the hotshot would-be pilot of three years ago. I can't wait to see where he goes from here.

Godspeed, little bro.