A Spokane nurse who has been attempting to enlist within the Navy for years is hopeful Congress takes motion on laws launched final week that might lastly enable her to serve.
Hannah Cvancara, who grew up in a army household, has lengthy wished to serve within the army, significantly within the Navy’s Nurse Corps. However civilians who need to be part of the army cannot be lacking any a part of their limbs, which disqualifies Cvancara from enlisting.
A invoice launched final week by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers would enable individuals with non-service-related amputations to affix the army in medical roles, in keeping with a launch from her workplace.
Whereas the prosthetic will be troublesome to swim with, it would not inhibit Cvancara’s means to go the Navy’s bodily health take a look at for girls between 25 and 29 years outdated.
“It seems to be like a legal responsibility to the Navy, however my aim is to indicate that due to my incapacity and my prosthetic that I’m good to go. It is an asset and a power,” mentioned Cvancara, who works full time as a nurse on the Windfall Medical Park Surgical procedure Heart. “It is not like I require fixed care to operate. The entire level of getting a prosthetic is that I can do all of the issues I have to do and I do not want continued care.”
Cvancara, 27, participated in seven completely different sports activities in highschool and school and maintains an energetic life-style at present as a frequent hiker, backpacker and common on the health club. She competed in a 10-kilometer Spartan impediment course race this summer time in Colorado, she mentioned.
Cvancara mentioned she all the time has wished to affix the army. Her father was a flight surgeon within the Air Power earlier than working towards medication in Spokane.
“His medical expertise actually opened my eyes to being a nurse, however the different half was my affected person expertise,” mentioned Cvancara, who has undergone six surgical procedures on her leg.
Cvancara was born with fibula hemimelia, a congenital start defect the place the bones in her legs, ankle and foot do not develop along with her physique. Cvancara’s left foot was amputated when she was 1 12 months outdated.
She first tried to affix the Navy in 2017 however was denied on account of her lacking foot. She started the method to enlist once more with waivers final summer time. That is additionally when she began working with McMorris Rodgers’ workplace and completely different disabilities rights advocates.
She has met dozens of individuals with related tales who hope to serve within the army, she mentioned.
In March this 12 months, she started the method on the Navy Entrance Processing Station for a full medical analysis, however was denied once more. If accepted, she would enter the Navy Nurse Corps as a lieutenant junior grade. If that occurs, she can be the primary civilian with an amputation to efficiently be part of the army.
“Hannah is likely one of the most inspiring ladies I’ve ever met,” McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Spokane, mentioned in an announcement. “She is a fierce veterans and disabilities advocate, a profitable graduate nurse, and a former collegiate athlete. Above all, she resides proof that nobody is outlined by their circumstances.”
Whereas McMorris Rodgers’ invoice would solely enable civilians to affix the army in medical roles, Cvancara hopes that the invoice would possibly increase later to incorporate different service roles.
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