Help Nathan Noffsinger Fight Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Our friend, Nate, and his fiancé, and sons, 4 and 6 years old, are a breath of fresh air in their love for the world, the earth, and their desire to bring happiness and health to others. Since we met them, we have loved knowing they are out there, being the free-spirited, earth-touching people they are. We have marveled at their beautiful sons. Atlas, the older of the two, says hello to plants and trees and cares mindfully for his chickens. Little Zeppy, quite sure of himself in all ways, has the delightful stubbornness of a man decades older than him. And Nate, in his late 30s, works ceaselessly to be a good provider. In addition to working full time in construction, Nate has always taken on side jobs, working to give his family security and be a role model and inspiration to his kids. Even after he began to have intense stomach pain and fatigue, he pressed on, going to work, uninsured, and not wanting to “take money” from his family to see the doctor. When he finally went to the emergency room, the doctor found a large mass in his colon and severe anemia that required a blood transfusion. His doctor wanted to schedule surgery to remove the tumor, but with his lack of insurance and hospital bills already piling up, Nate had to refuse surgery and chemo until he could find an insurance plan. With the pain and blood loss increasing, he sought out several natural remedies to buy him some time as his health continued to decline, making it harder every day for him to work and provide for his family.

 

Nate’s only option, after months of researching and seeking out options to pay for his care, was to apply for insurance in his old hometown of New York to receive non-invasive treatments called immunotherapy. This would force him to leave his pregnant fiancé, Emily, and his young boys at home in Bent Mountain, Virginia. Because of this move and lack of childcare, Emily too has been unable to work. When Nate went to see his new doctor in NYC at the beginning of June, he discovered the mass was worse than he thought, and the cancer had moved to his lymph nodes and liver. His doctor had told him about a new trial study for a drug called Dostarlimad that specially targeted his genetic mutation called Lynch Syndrome and had a 100% cure rate. Nate waited three weeks in NY to start this new treatment, only to be told that his insurance would not cover payments because his cancer had spread farther than the study would permit. This trip depleted the family’s savings and the news that the cancer was more advanced than thought has, of course, left the family completely disheartened. Out-of-pocket expenses for six treatments at $11,200 each would cost them $67,200. After four months of being unable to generate an income and their savings diminishing, they are finally reaching out for your help. Your generous donations would help relieve their family of monthly bills, medical bills, travel costs and a place for Nate to stay in New York while he undergoes the cancer treatments for stage 4 cancer.

 

We believe that Nate will beat this challenge, but we know he will be in the best place to fight this if he can focus on healing. We have the power, not as one but as a community, to provide Nate and his family with the gift of security and quality time together so they can focus on strength and healing. It is all we can do. And it is a lot.