Just Keep Swimming Nat!
Donation protected
Hello friends and family! My name is Nat Coll, I am 25 years old now and most of you guys know my story. You probably know that I’ve been battling lupus for the last twelve years, and seven years ago was additionally diagnosed with gatro-intestinal paralysis, which makes navigating day-to-day life exceptionally difficult. I have seen doctor after doctor, treatment after treatment, and after many feeding tubes, central lines, daily steroids, 3 years of intensive treatment three times a week, constant hair loss, and 14 bouts of sepsis (that’s right 14!) we have had to make some difficult decisions. We made the decision to stop all medical intervention including artificial nutrition and steroids. It finally comes down to quality versus quantity of life. It’s a miracle how far I’ve made it and the obstacles I have overcame with all of your support!
Refusing to go in a slow uneventful somber I have already crossed out almost every item on my bucket list. What were these places you may ask? They weren’t places I wanted to see but people I wanted to visit, the people who made me...well me! Starting camping with Buddhist friends in camp hope, ATVing and driving boats in Lake Tahoe, playing with octopus’s backstage at Seaworld woth my college friend, touring San Fran with my Jr High friend, Oakland with my ex, etc it has been amazing!!!!
But energy began running low and my heart started acting up regularly from low potassium so these trips stopped a few months ago. My body is just too weak to continue this fight but I still have one trip I would like to take- New York!!! As many of you know my sister moved to New York a few years ago and I have only seen her once since that time. (As an added bonus I will likely get to meet my superhero Mighty amatthew on this trip!) but find have run low so we are turning to our amazing emotional support system for assistance! I know it sounds cheesy, but every dollar helps!
(Please Know that likely half of the the money received will go directly into paying for palliative care doctor visits and comfort care interventions to help make this time more comfortable)
Refusing to go in a slow uneventful somber I have already crossed out almost every item on my bucket list. What were these places you may ask? They weren’t places I wanted to see but people I wanted to visit, the people who made me...well me! Starting camping with Buddhist friends in camp hope, ATVing and driving boats in Lake Tahoe, playing with octopus’s backstage at Seaworld woth my college friend, touring San Fran with my Jr High friend, Oakland with my ex, etc it has been amazing!!!!
But energy began running low and my heart started acting up regularly from low potassium so these trips stopped a few months ago. My body is just too weak to continue this fight but I still have one trip I would like to take- New York!!! As many of you know my sister moved to New York a few years ago and I have only seen her once since that time. (As an added bonus I will likely get to meet my superhero Mighty amatthew on this trip!) but find have run low so we are turning to our amazing emotional support system for assistance! I know it sounds cheesy, but every dollar helps!
(Please Know that likely half of the the money received will go directly into paying for palliative care doctor visits and comfort care interventions to help make this time more comfortable)
Organizer
Dani Collison
Organizer
Costa Mesa, CA