Nate's Story |
|
Everyone that knew Nate knew he was one of the kindest, loving, forgiving, and strongest people they had ever known. He was never an instigator or a bully, he stuck up for those that were victims of such things. He saw good in everyone and didn't care who you were, he just wanted everyone to feel as though they belonged, which is why he was friends with so many people. All the people he was friends with were good people as well, much of the time being because he brought the good out of them by being supportive and understanding. Anyone could talk to him about anything, no matter the situation.
At the beginning of senior year, our class was very excited to see what was to come of our final year of high school. Everyone was excited for the final stretch of our long careers through East Aurora. It was a time when everyone was coming together to enjoy and celebrate our times with each other. However, after the first week in, there was no sign of Nate. Those close with him began to worry and question where he had gone. He was a cornerstone of our friend group, holding us together, never letting us break apart over stupid arguments. So him being gone for even as long as he was, was difficult. No one knew what was going on with him, but eventually the news broke that he had a type of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma in his hip. This cancer can affect both soft tissue and bones. It has potential to be very deadly. After learning about this, we were in despair and anguish, struggling to comprehend what was happening. He had been complaining about his hip for a while, but we all shrugged it off, not thinking for one second that it was as serious as cancer. I mean, he played a whole lacrosse season with this pain, which is impressive in itself, and proves just how strong he really was. Learning this brought us together as we began to support him with everything. We would go visit him, call, facetime, and spread the support. We figured, if we are strong with him, it will help in his fight, a fight that he could not take on alone.
We were all optimistic that he would be able to fight through it and he did for a while. He kept getting through it, getting stronger and stronger, but then when it seemed to be getting better, something else would pop up and he would have to go back in the hospital to get treatment. These were the hardest days, when it seemed better, but then it wasn't. Hope was still alive, but as he kept battling, we all started to worry and in turn increased our support. The talks we all had with Nate are some we will never forget. He matured beyond all of us, gaining wisdom, truths of life and death, meanings of things we take for granted. His wisdom strengthened all of us as well, we are better people now because of Nate. Those that knew him well will say this and more about the amazing person he was with no hesitation. Eventually, we graduated and went off to college, going on with our own lives, but still checking up on him and keeping him in the back of our minds. While we were living our lives, he was still fighting a fight none of us can imagine.
We all went through a year after high school, with Nate still fighting and then summer came. Everyone came back home for the summer of 2020 and Nate seemed much better. He was coming out, hanging out with us, and it seemed as though everything was okay. We were all enjoying having our friend back and he made that summer more memorable than any we have had. But then towards the end of summer he went in for treatment again, out in California and Mexico, what we eventually learned was a last resort attempt to help him get better. This shocked us, for it seemed as though everything was starting to get somewhat back to normal for him. We were devastated, but at the same time overjoyed that we could spend this last summer with our best friend. Eventually, they sent him back home, to reside in hospice with his close friends and family. These last moments were impossible to describe. The emotions were sorrowful, but understanding. There were immense levels of love and support, for Nate, and the people there to say goodbye and mourn. It was hard to see him in the state that he was in, but we all knew he was going to a better place and were thankful that he was able to be apart of our lives.
He made us all better people, and we were able to tell him all about it, which was in a way, relieving. At the end, he knew he was loved by everyone, which is all anyone could have asked for. Now look, everyone is here in support of this amazing soul and he is smiling down on us, giving us the strength to be better people. We are all better people because of this man and must continue to carry on his legacy and what we learned from him. He would do the same thing for any of us.
At the beginning of senior year, our class was very excited to see what was to come of our final year of high school. Everyone was excited for the final stretch of our long careers through East Aurora. It was a time when everyone was coming together to enjoy and celebrate our times with each other. However, after the first week in, there was no sign of Nate. Those close with him began to worry and question where he had gone. He was a cornerstone of our friend group, holding us together, never letting us break apart over stupid arguments. So him being gone for even as long as he was, was difficult. No one knew what was going on with him, but eventually the news broke that he had a type of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma in his hip. This cancer can affect both soft tissue and bones. It has potential to be very deadly. After learning about this, we were in despair and anguish, struggling to comprehend what was happening. He had been complaining about his hip for a while, but we all shrugged it off, not thinking for one second that it was as serious as cancer. I mean, he played a whole lacrosse season with this pain, which is impressive in itself, and proves just how strong he really was. Learning this brought us together as we began to support him with everything. We would go visit him, call, facetime, and spread the support. We figured, if we are strong with him, it will help in his fight, a fight that he could not take on alone.
We were all optimistic that he would be able to fight through it and he did for a while. He kept getting through it, getting stronger and stronger, but then when it seemed to be getting better, something else would pop up and he would have to go back in the hospital to get treatment. These were the hardest days, when it seemed better, but then it wasn't. Hope was still alive, but as he kept battling, we all started to worry and in turn increased our support. The talks we all had with Nate are some we will never forget. He matured beyond all of us, gaining wisdom, truths of life and death, meanings of things we take for granted. His wisdom strengthened all of us as well, we are better people now because of Nate. Those that knew him well will say this and more about the amazing person he was with no hesitation. Eventually, we graduated and went off to college, going on with our own lives, but still checking up on him and keeping him in the back of our minds. While we were living our lives, he was still fighting a fight none of us can imagine.
We all went through a year after high school, with Nate still fighting and then summer came. Everyone came back home for the summer of 2020 and Nate seemed much better. He was coming out, hanging out with us, and it seemed as though everything was okay. We were all enjoying having our friend back and he made that summer more memorable than any we have had. But then towards the end of summer he went in for treatment again, out in California and Mexico, what we eventually learned was a last resort attempt to help him get better. This shocked us, for it seemed as though everything was starting to get somewhat back to normal for him. We were devastated, but at the same time overjoyed that we could spend this last summer with our best friend. Eventually, they sent him back home, to reside in hospice with his close friends and family. These last moments were impossible to describe. The emotions were sorrowful, but understanding. There were immense levels of love and support, for Nate, and the people there to say goodbye and mourn. It was hard to see him in the state that he was in, but we all knew he was going to a better place and were thankful that he was able to be apart of our lives.
He made us all better people, and we were able to tell him all about it, which was in a way, relieving. At the end, he knew he was loved by everyone, which is all anyone could have asked for. Now look, everyone is here in support of this amazing soul and he is smiling down on us, giving us the strength to be better people. We are all better people because of this man and must continue to carry on his legacy and what we learned from him. He would do the same thing for any of us.
