Born: December 13, 2002
Illness: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Epilepsy, Asthma, reflux
Quilt Deadline: July 1, 2009
Theme of Quilt: Quilt is now full and closed. Please check the other children for stitching information.
The following interests are mainly to help you get to know the child better.
You may use what you can towards the theme of the quilt, but make sure that you stitch within the theme.
Nathaniel's interests are: Orange. Nathaniel lives in CT.
Click here to see the squares for Nathaniel as they come in for him! (Please keep in mind that his quilt wasn't opened to stitchers until January 2009)
Biography
Nate was a normal delivery at 37 weeks. He was tiny (5 lbs. 8 oz) but healthy. He had a normal toddlerhood and met all of his milestones. He began having high temps every so often. No rhyme or reason. Then his tonsills became swollen and had to come out in an emergency surgery. They came back normal. Then I became pregnant again and had a baby girl. The delivery was difficult and I ended up needing CPR and the baby ended up in the NICU. We finally got her home and all was well.
Five days went by and then we noticed a lump growing out by Nate's left ear. The doctor assured us that is was a swollen gland and gave us an antibiotic. While on the antibiotic another lump grew under his chin. The Doctor told us to go and see our ENT and go form there. The ENT said it was mono or lyme and not to worry. He did a full blood workup and everything was normal. Then, He decided to do a CT scan and see what was going on. The CT scan showed that the growth was lymph nodes. They did a biopsy and it came back as precursor B cell lyphoma. Then next day, we were sent to see an Oncologist and we learned that he had Leukemia. He had 30 % blasts (immature blood cells) in his bone marrow. Anything above 25% is luekemia and below is Lymphoma. And so our journey began.
Nate had a port placed and began chemo. I should mention that I was wearing a portable defibrillator in case my heart stopped again. I suffered an amniotic fluid embolism. 1 in 100,000 chance and 90% fatal for Mom and 50 % fatal for the baby. We had our hands full between me, Emma and Nate. I'm not sure how we did it. Nate ended up in the hospital for a month. I would be there Monday through Friday and my husband would stay the weekends.
Nate has had it rough from the chemo. We have done NG tube feedings, dealt with nausau and vomiting, dirrhea to constipation, bad enough that he developed an illeus and had to have his stomach pumped and have stool softeners for 4 days staight just in order to have a bowel movement. He stopped walking and had to PT to learn to walk again. He developed an allergy to the chemo and no we have to premed before we give his chemo and split it up or else his skin starts peeling. We were diagnosed wiht Asthma and reflux because if the chemo. He was also diagnosed with Epilepsy. We are told that he would of had seizures anyway, but my husband and I are not convinced yet.
Now for the good that has come out of this. A greater awareness of Family and Friends. A greater understanding of God and His plan. A community that has enveloped us and chose us to be 1 out 10 families that the fire department choose to help out and shower us with presents at Christmas. A school community that has also enveloped us and helped us through the good times and the bad times. An amazing Make a Wish trip that my kids wont forget for a long time. Nate has 10 more months of chemo and then we are planning a huge party to thank all those that have helped us through this very trying time.
Written by Nathaniel's mom in October 2008
