Nathan's Mission Possible
Donation protected
My 15-year-old cousin Nathan, with only days until Christmas 2016 was informed that the Osteosarcoma (cancer in the femur) had metastasized in his lungs for the 2nd time, after being in remission for only 3 months and that Palliative care was his only option! My world was spiralling out of control. It was the news that we all prayed never to hear, yet here it was. I made a vow on that day, I would get my cousin to America no matter what it took. My only thought was I am going to give my cousin his dream – “to ride on an awesome rollercoaster at Magic Mountain” (Los Angeles).
Nathan’s Journey has been a long and horrific experience for all involved but It is Nathan’s positivity, that has got us all through this tough journey. He is our hero and has inspired us all to be brave and live life every day to its fullest!
We would be so grateful if you could help this great cause. Your support will ensure Nathan can enjoy some time away from hospital and tests, before his leg surgery in July.
Keep reading to find out more about Nathan's journey..
Nathan’s Journey
Nathan was only 12 when he started suffering from what we all thought were terrible “growing pains”. In April 2014, Nathan was diagnosed with a rare childhood bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. At diagnoses, the doctors also found a Pneumothorax (lung collapse), and as such, he required surgery to insert a chest drain to inflate his lung, a port in the side of his chest for chemo and a PEG in his stomach for feeding. A few days later, chemo commenced.
Half way through treatment, Nathan was required to have surgery on his (femur) right leg to remove the 20cm tumor. After speaking to the surgeon, Nathan’s parents were advised his leg would be amputated, as the MRI looked as though the cancer had formed around the blood vessels behind the knee. The surgeon was discussing a rotationplasty (where the bottom half of the leg and foot, is removed and rotated to join the femur, making the ankle become the knee). Right up until that point, Nathan remained positive and was a pillar of strength to his family saying “it was just a leg” and was happy to be alive. Following a marathon 13-hour surgery, Nathan was reunited with his family and given the astonishing news that there was no cancer behind his knee and he was keeping his leg. The 7.5cm difference in length didn't dampen the outcome!
After the final round of chemo in December 2014, Nathan was in remission for 18 months. Although this was great news, 2015 was not entirely smooth sailing. During Nathan's quarterly CT scan a few spots were found on his lungs. In March, surgery was performed to remove the lesions, which thankfully came back benign.
Another Pneumothorax was found on the left lung in August, which became infected from the chest drain. The lung was refusing to inflate, resulting in another surgery to get Nathan's lung functioning correctly. During two and a half years, Nathan has had a total of 12 procedures and in time will need at least three more surgeries, to correct his right leg.
In March 2016, Nathan was diagnosed with a 5cm secondary Metastasis (cancer) on his left lung. Within 3 weeks it had grown to 10.5cm just before surgery. After 7.5 hours in theatre, half a lung was removed, with cells remaining too close to the nerves in his shoulder to be extracted safely. Nathan recovered in ICU for 24 hours, and two weeks later started chemo, followed by 33 rounds of radiotherapy.
After this extremely difficult period, Nathan was finally in remission again, to which we all celebrated. 3 months in and Nathan was diagnosed for the third time, with lesions on his lungs; 3cm on the left and 6mm on the right lung. A week after diagnoses we received the worst news possible. The team of oncology specialists confirmed the disease was incurable and as such the palliative care team would be in contact to help Nathan through the remainder of his life.
A final PET scan was booked 3 days before Christmas to see how far the cancer had spread. To our delight the doctor advised "the area we were concerned about is cold, there is no cancer in either lung!" Nathan is our Christmas miracle!
To celebrate this wonderful news, we would like you to partner with us and make Nathans dream come true, by sending him on a once in a life time experience he so deserves!
CHRISTMAS 2013 - Before Diagnoses
JULY 2014 - Having one of many blood transfusions
JULY 2014 - After 13 hours of surgery
AUGUST 2014 - Nathans first day of school
MARCH 2015 - Lung surgery
APRIL 2016 - ICU after lung surgery
JULY 2016 - Radiation begins
AUGUST 2016 - Day 32 of radiation
AUGUST 2016 - Day 32 of radiation
DECEMBER 2016 - Nathan receives an encouragement award
Nathan’s Journey has been a long and horrific experience for all involved but It is Nathan’s positivity, that has got us all through this tough journey. He is our hero and has inspired us all to be brave and live life every day to its fullest!
We would be so grateful if you could help this great cause. Your support will ensure Nathan can enjoy some time away from hospital and tests, before his leg surgery in July.
Keep reading to find out more about Nathan's journey..
Nathan’s Journey
Nathan was only 12 when he started suffering from what we all thought were terrible “growing pains”. In April 2014, Nathan was diagnosed with a rare childhood bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. At diagnoses, the doctors also found a Pneumothorax (lung collapse), and as such, he required surgery to insert a chest drain to inflate his lung, a port in the side of his chest for chemo and a PEG in his stomach for feeding. A few days later, chemo commenced.
Half way through treatment, Nathan was required to have surgery on his (femur) right leg to remove the 20cm tumor. After speaking to the surgeon, Nathan’s parents were advised his leg would be amputated, as the MRI looked as though the cancer had formed around the blood vessels behind the knee. The surgeon was discussing a rotationplasty (where the bottom half of the leg and foot, is removed and rotated to join the femur, making the ankle become the knee). Right up until that point, Nathan remained positive and was a pillar of strength to his family saying “it was just a leg” and was happy to be alive. Following a marathon 13-hour surgery, Nathan was reunited with his family and given the astonishing news that there was no cancer behind his knee and he was keeping his leg. The 7.5cm difference in length didn't dampen the outcome!
After the final round of chemo in December 2014, Nathan was in remission for 18 months. Although this was great news, 2015 was not entirely smooth sailing. During Nathan's quarterly CT scan a few spots were found on his lungs. In March, surgery was performed to remove the lesions, which thankfully came back benign.
Another Pneumothorax was found on the left lung in August, which became infected from the chest drain. The lung was refusing to inflate, resulting in another surgery to get Nathan's lung functioning correctly. During two and a half years, Nathan has had a total of 12 procedures and in time will need at least three more surgeries, to correct his right leg.
In March 2016, Nathan was diagnosed with a 5cm secondary Metastasis (cancer) on his left lung. Within 3 weeks it had grown to 10.5cm just before surgery. After 7.5 hours in theatre, half a lung was removed, with cells remaining too close to the nerves in his shoulder to be extracted safely. Nathan recovered in ICU for 24 hours, and two weeks later started chemo, followed by 33 rounds of radiotherapy.
After this extremely difficult period, Nathan was finally in remission again, to which we all celebrated. 3 months in and Nathan was diagnosed for the third time, with lesions on his lungs; 3cm on the left and 6mm on the right lung. A week after diagnoses we received the worst news possible. The team of oncology specialists confirmed the disease was incurable and as such the palliative care team would be in contact to help Nathan through the remainder of his life.
A final PET scan was booked 3 days before Christmas to see how far the cancer had spread. To our delight the doctor advised "the area we were concerned about is cold, there is no cancer in either lung!" Nathan is our Christmas miracle!
To celebrate this wonderful news, we would like you to partner with us and make Nathans dream come true, by sending him on a once in a life time experience he so deserves!
CHRISTMAS 2013 - Before DiagnosesJULY 2014 - Having one of many blood transfusionsJULY 2014 - After 13 hours of surgeryAUGUST 2014 - Nathans first day of schoolMARCH 2015 - Lung surgery APRIL 2016 - ICU after lung surgeryJULY 2016 - Radiation begins AUGUST 2016 - Day 32 of radiation AUGUST 2016 - Day 32 of radiation DECEMBER 2016 - Nathan receives an encouragement awardOrganizer
Melinda Wright
Organizer
Berwick VIC
