Childhood Cancer

You are here

Nate Richard

  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Click the images to see them larger above!

Learn more about
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Get the facts about Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and how our research projects are making a difference.

Learn More »

Nate is 6 years old and is a fun-loving kid who loves to play with his friends, looks up to his daddy, enjoys being a big brother to sisters Ali and Audrey, and likes to play all kinds of sports.  Nate has been fighting leukemia (ALL) since diagnosed July 30, 2007.

Nate was a "regular" kid making preparations to start kindergarten last year when a finger prick at his pediatrician wellness checkup revealed a low hemaglobin level.  Within four days, Nate had been diagnosed with leukemia and he began chemotherapy at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  This was a devastating time for our family.  Our hearts were broken and we were afraid.  We quickly learned that ALL is the most common type of childhood leukemia and that it is about 80% treatable.  The first goal of treatment is to put it into remission.  Thankfully, this was accomplished in Nate during the first 30 days of difficult treatments.  After remission was achieved, we were told that there were several phases of treatments left lasting a total of 3 1/2 years.  The first 8 months were the most difficult as Nate felt bad quite often during these months.  He lost his hair, had a lot of weight fluctuation, had to receive blood transfusions and platelets several times and stayed away from any groups of people for these months to avoid additional illness.

 Our family travelled at least two days each week for 8 months for Nate's treatments.  Nate had a home hospital teacher from his elementary school work with him each week to complete kindergarten.  Our family had Sunday school at home.  Nate was not able to be around friends countless times.  However, Nate made it through these difficult times and is doing great.  The maintenance phase of treatment still requires four different chemotherapies, but he tolerates it much better than the earlier phase treatments.  He still gets really tired and extremely hungry when taking steroids each month and he is more susceptible to illnesses than one normally would be, but he is able to live a kid's life.

Where Nate may not have been able to be a "regular" kid, we feel he has become an exceptional one in the face of this challenge.  Nate has 2 1/2 years of maintenance treatment left, and prayerfully, he will have leukemia behind him.  God bless you for your interest in his story.

Written by:  Stacie Richard, Nate's mom

Update: Sadly, Nate passed away in June of 2009.

Next Hero

Donate in Honor of Nate Today!

Your donation helps to fund critically-needed research to find better treatments and cures for children with cancer.

Childhood Cancer Heroes

More Heroes

VIEW ALL HEROES
Jason is a high school student who plans to get a PhD in mathematics. When he was 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. He had a rotationplasty, a surgery that saved Jason's leg, and his life. He's been able to remain active 13 years later!
Kaitlyn is a determined girl who is a bright light in a dark room! After what her family thought was a volleyball injury, Kaitlyn was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left femur. Recently, Kaitlyn sadly relapsed with the cancer in her lung.
McKenzie is a big prankster – while in the hospital, she would often silly string her nurses and doctors! She was diagnosed with both Hodgekin lymphoma and Supraventricular Tachycardia and went on a 15-week treatment plan. Today she has reached remission!
Kno’lan is a little guy with a BIG personality. He was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a rare cancer-like disease, and has relapsed three times. Today, his family is traveling to Texas in search of his cure.