Dear friends and community -

 

We are going to need all hands on deck for this one. On June 1st, Nate was diagnosed with cancer. Following a weekend of hard dancing at Trapper Creek, he awoke Sunday morning with upper back and neck pain. The intensity of the pain led him to go to a hospital two days later. An MRI quickly revealed that Nate has a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor the size of an avocado pit on his cervical spine.

 

Nate and Ja’hnie have been told

that surgical removal is not an option due to the sensitive location and size of the tumor, and he runs the risk of potential paralysis of his arms if it progresses. Their next steps are to immediately start radiation at Providence in Anchorage.

 

They have been instructed to put work/life responsibilities on hold in order to focus on spending time with one another.

 

Nate was just about to start his mining season up in Nome, and Ja’hnie was in the midst of getting Odin meadery up and running along with all her other work endeavors. In a Matter of days their priorities have significantly changed. Fortunately Nate currently has health insurance, which will cover the bulk of his treatments. What it won’t cover is the cost of frequent trips to Anchorage, co-pays, supplemental alternative health needs, and general life necessities and demands.

 

Please make a financial contribution if you can, and respect their space as they process this fresh news and traverse this new terrain.