UPDATE ABOUT THE BENEFIT FOR NATHEN

I just wanted to give everyone a little run down on the benefit. I do hope some of you can make it. We have worked really hard to make it a great day for everyone. I have attached the 2 flyers (kids and benefit) also so that you can sort of get an idea what is happening.

Food

Live Bands - you can check out our webpage for the groups and the times they play - http://nathentrueblood.com/benefit2008.html

Cash Bar (monies from alcoholic beverages does not go to Nathen)

Bucs Game

Arm Wrestling - this is gonna be fun

Pie Throwing - this is gonna be funny!

Raffles - and do we have raffles this year. Some of the items are a Bucs Coach Gruden Superbowl Hat autographed with a certificate, Tampa Bay Rays Watch, Family 1 year pass to Mosi, 1 year free membership to Beach Park Health Club, Really nice framed prints, and a lot more items and more coming. You do not have to be present to win and if you would like to buy tickets please call me. We will post something soon that will show all items being raffled. And just to let everyone know, we are very honest in our raffles and Nathen's family is not allowed to participate in any raffles.

Rummage Sale - People have called and we have picked up stuff and some are bringing their items the day of the event. If you have something, or want to clear out stuff, call me, I will pick up, we have a storage room (813) 900-3319

Baked Goodies - We are asking anyone who would like to, please bring in a baked item for this sale.

Face Painting by C H I Q U I T I T A ’ s, she is well known for her work around tampa in body and face painting.

Jumbo the Clown - If you have not heard about Jumbo yet, everyone is in for a treat, a true entertainer!

Hair Cuts by various hair cutters from So. Tampa - all proceeds are going to Nathen $10 hair cut.

Pedicures & Painted Nails by Margo

Kids Games, Bouncer, Slide, Coloring, Prizes, 2 cartoon charactes & More!

Tupperware Display - I decided to do this for Amanda. I have heard over and over how small the Ronald McDonald House rooms are, and she tries to stay organized there. I thought we could do a tupperware party the day of the benefit and whatever the hostess earns Amanda can pick out some stuff from the catalog for her and Nathen while they are trying to be comfortable in NY. I have catalogs and am taking orders. If you would like to order something from Tupperware and have it benefit Amanda and Nathen, you can contact Denise Fyda and here you can see some of the great things they have right now: Denise Fyda WEBSITE: http://my2.tupperware.com/DeniseFyda

EMAIL: DeniseFyda@my2.tupperware.com

Last but certainly not the least (to some anyway) if we reach $10,000, I will get on stage and have my head shaved bald again!! It is just starting to grow too. But it's ok, it will grow back!

There will be professional photography being taken all day also in which we will get to share when it's all over, I can't wait!

There may be other things happening that day as we are working on more stuff. Please pass the word around, invite your friends, family and everyone. Come out and have fun and at the same time help Amanda and Nathen. And if you can't make it, maybe you can print the flyer up and hang it somewhere that others may see it!

Thanks everyone, please keep praying. I have to tell you that when I have been going out and getting raffle items, it has been hard for me to tell people about Nathen without me breaking down and crying. I have to stop myself and remember that God is going to use Nathen as an example of the miracles that he performs and Nathen will be the proof. Thank you for your continued support.

Carolyn

(813) 900-3319

Sunday, November 9th

OK, so I know it has been a very long time since I have sent out an update, not sure if I can even remeber where I left off but here goes nothing... through the end of August and most of September Nathen had been running low grade fevers with no explanation and real fussy(like he did before he was diagnosed) I kept telling the Dr's there was something wrong but they would keep saying look at him, he looks great, and yes he does look great compared to a year ago but still there was something not right and I knew it. Finally in the end of September he had his scans and they were not going to do the MRI of his head because they had alot of emergency ones that needed to be done, but I insisted they do one even if it had to be a week later or something. GOOD THING I DID! When they got the results, they pulled me in the room and told me he had two tumors in his brain and they were hemoraging. On Sept 30th we had surgery to remove the two tumors which was a great success, they got all of both of them. The Dr's said we can not do any more 3f8's at this time but would have to have two rounds of chemo and 17 days of radiation before they would do more test to see where things stand. The Surgeon decided that he wanted another MRI post Surgery to make sure things were as they were supposed to be. So on 10/13/08 we started a round of chemo, and on Tuesday the 14th we started radiation and also had the MRI. It took them a week to tell me the results of the MRI, I kept asking and they kept saying the results were not back then finally on the 21st exactly a week later they told me that they have the results and there was another spot on his brain but they do not know if it is a tumor or if it is bleeding but it is larger than the other two they removed and they will not look again til after he finishes radiation, so we have a sceduled MRI for November 13th, needless to say I am a nervous wreck waiting and I watch every little thing Nathen does to make sure that he does not show any neurological symptons. So far he is hanging in there. They also said that because they do not know what is going on we will have to keep his platelets above 100 thousand so we have been getting platelets almost every day. On November the 3rd I was called by The radiation Dr's office and told that they needed me to come in and that the Dr needed to talk to me about something, I was feeling very sick to my stomache and all I could think of is that spot, and they seen something during radiation or something. When I got Dr. Wolden met me in the hall way and took me to a room and I immediately asked, whats wrong, is Nathen OK? And she said yes he is ok, he is fine. She said I have to tell you though that on October 29th, the previous Thursday they made a mistake and radiated the wrong part of Nathen's brain. She says that it is a low enough dose that it should not have any extra side effects than the radiation that he is getting in the correct place. I AM DEVASTATED! This is my baby's brain we are talking about. It was't just a little error either, it was off by a whole section of the brain. Due to this error Nathen had to have an extra day of radiation to give the needed dose to the correct spot. Which also meant an extra day of anestesia. I tell you what my baby can't catch a break. He has had enough problems with out people messing up on his treatments. I told her I want the person responsible to held accountable! I know mistkes happen but when it is someones brain they should be extra careful. Anyways thats where we are now and we will be going to the hospital every day next week to check his platelet levels til we get his next MRI results, and then we will go from there. Please say a prayer for my little man, also I would like to say that while you are praying for our little man please pray for 4 families that have loss this horrible battle and have gotten bad news this past week. Brody Hurt gained his angel wings on this past Monday, his sister was very good friends With Nicole while they were here. On This past Sunday Faith Giffin gained her wings, and this past Thursday Kody Edwards gained his wings. All three of these kids we got to know quite well and it hurts me to know their families have to endure such pain but I am happy that they no longer feel pain them selfs. I know they are in gods loving arms in heaven and he is embracing them and also embracing their families. On this past Friday another family we have met here got some terrible news. They were told that they could no longer receive chemo and that the tumor in their sons brain has spread too much and it is growing too fast, it is now covering his whole head and going down the spine. Please say a special prayer for the Larson Family and their son. God can do wonderful things and I know he is with them and he is by their side and by ours. Thank you to everyone for your continued support and prayers,

Amanda and family

P R A Y E R S 4 N A T H E N B E N E F I T 2 0 0 8

Check it Out! A new benefit for Nathen. All the information is on his website but it is being held Novemeber 23rd at the American Legion Post 138 in Tampa Florida. Bigger and better this year. Alot of great raffle items, arm wrestling, live bands, open bar, clown, cartoon characters, games, prizes, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game on big screen TV, large rummage sale, food and fun for the entire family. www.nathentrueblood.com/benefit2008.html for more details.

Nathen is currently finishing up the 17 days of radiation he was doing and we are all praying that the problem they found is not a big problem. Amanda will be giving us an update soon.

Check back soon for the update and I hope to meet you at the Benefit!