I'm in the process of cleaning up/out my apartment today as I will be moving out for the summer next week. So I'm bopping around my room to some tunes going through the agonizing process of deciding which pieces of my precious junk should be thrown out and which should actually be kept, when I hear my phone ring. I run to grab it and see some 512 number I don't recognize. This always scares me a little because an unknown 512 number always means business. I answer it in my business voice and its some guy from the IRB asking me questions about my proposal. Oh crud, I haven't brought myself to call Dr. F yet and figure out what we're going to do with the proposal now that the travel request has been denied. Guess I'll just fake like this thing is still happening... so I talk to him for a bit. When I hang up with him I notice I have a missed call and voicemail from Dr. F.
I call voicemail and the lady greets me and tells me I have, "one unheard message. Message one..." As I listen I try not to wet my pants. I cannot believe what I'm hearing! Dr. F tells me I need to try and appeal the IOC decision (and I'm like, yea right)... and that this thing can still happen, call her ASAP. (OMG)
So I take two deep breaths and call her. She has been talking to IRB folks and my proposal can and WILL still be reviewed on Monday. Without the university's permission to travel, I can't go and do the research as we had initially planned methodologically, BUT, it is still eligible to get conditionally approved. And Dr. F has come up w/some ways to potentially tweak the methodology that would still get us the data, I just wouldn't physically be there collecting it. For instance, I could interview kids over Skype, or set up a survey online and have people on site help administer it to the kids after I'm gone.
There are still too many variables up in the air to say what is going to happen, but I do know this: ITS STILL ALIVE!! And to be able to say that after all that has happened has removed every last bit of doubt and anger that has plagued me since receiving the denial letter last week. Someway, somehow, something is going to come of this. Who knows what, but something will. And it will be good.
I am filled with joy to be celebrating the little resurrection of this project! It is an abundantly beautiful truth that the end is NEVER the end when you serve a risen Lord. All glory to him who is faithful! I know there will probably be plenty more frustration and setbacks (ha, especially if the last few months have been any indication), but he is faithful. Faithful faithful faithful faithful! WOO just wanna sing it, dance it out with me yall!
So to review: I will be "appealing" the IOC's denial of my travel proposal (more like inventing an appeal process since no one has ever done it before). My research proposal will be reviewed by the IRB on Monday (I will probably be given several changes to make and then be granted full approval in June*), and I leave Austin that day. I fly to Haiti June 4. THANK YOU for your continued support and prayers on all of these things, they are why this thing is still going.
*you know, hopefully. again, who knows...
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