N is 36 on this snowy day in Lamy!

The Successful Tournament!!!

Dearest Friends and Family,

We want to thank all of you for your support during Nathanael's recent golf tourney and dinner fundraiser! Your encouragement, notes, prayers, kindness and donations during this effort helped us raise a miraculous amount of money for N's stem cell fund-- just over $19,000!!!! And donations are still coming in! 

This effort is getting us nearer to doing the HLA (human leukocyte antigen) matched treatments for N. In the meantime, he was able to receive an unmatched umbilical stem cell injection a few weeks ago, and since then has gained 2 lbs. and has been able to walk down the driveway again (his hip that had been bothering him all summer healed up within a few days of his last treatment!). Due to this boost in immunity and metabolism, we can focus on getting some important dental work done so he is free of any hidden infections. Each day continues to be a huge struggle with pain in his muscles, joints and fractured spine; with sudden nausea and constant fatigue; with Lyme, Aplastic Anemia, and Osteoperosis raging on in his very tired body. Due to all of our love and support, he wakes up each morning willing to keep fighting, and even on his terrible days, he shares that wonderful, gracious, broad smile for all those caring for him. Maybe someday, by God's grace, he can start that book we all are hoping he'll write!

Again, we want to thank you for your support this year. Thank you, everyone, who has cared, prayed, bought raffle tickets, sponsored a hole or event table, golfed, dined with us, or given what was in your heart for N's cause. Our family is DEEPLY thankful. Below is a photo album of the special day as a tribute to all who helped. Many thanks to our devoted parents, Kevan and Alex Morshed, Matt Borst and all the people who made this fundraiser an incredible success. 

Nathanael's Golf Tournament 2013 
Don't miss the pic of N's dad, Johnny, who has never golfed just before his hole-in-one put! Highlight of the tourney and a reminder of anything being possible with God!

With tremendous appreciation,

The Daggetts

Johnny & Hilary, Nathanael & Roxie, Feebird (Theodora) and Franco (Jamie)

To keep up with N's progress check: HelpHOPELive for Nathanael

Nathanael's Letter, Fall 2013

Dear Friends and Family, 

When my wife, Roxie, told me that she and our friends were planning another fundraiser for me, I told her that I would like to write this year’s letter. What a blessing that I am able to do this (with her help).

First of all, I’d like to thank ALL of you for your various means of support! There is no earthly way I would be alive today without the help of my stem cell fund. Having a resource for my treatments is amazing because I know so many people don’t have this privilege. Thank you for being a part of my journey through your concern, prayers and financial help.

Here is some background on the challenges I’m facing. Three years ago I was 85 pounds and confined to my bed unable to move for weeks at a time. I had and still have, painful fractures all down my spine due to advanced Osteoporosis, Aplastic Anemia (a life threatening blood cell disorder), and advanced Lyme Disease (plus co-infections). At that time, it took two people to help me move because I was so fragile, and my parents, wife and caregiver had to tend to my every need at all hours of the day and night. It was the lowest point of my life. I believed that I would not be around for long. In a final effort, I asked if I could do the one thing I had not tried—Umbilical Stem Cell Transplantation (USCT). On the day that we did my first USCT injection, we received a random call letting us know that a family friend would provide funding to do multiple treatments. God was not allowing me to go home yet.

Those initial treatments saved my life. I have regained: mobility around my home; brain function that allows me to remember things, to read and write again; metabolism to put on desperately needed weight to cushion weak bones; and the ability to comfort and counsel others with health issues. The USCT and supporting treatments have kept me stable, but right now I am slipping into a dangerous place. I am down to 95 pounds, have continuous low red and white blood cell counts, and am battling constant pain, fatigue and weakness. USCT is the only protocol that has helped me, and up to this point we have only been able to afford unmatched umbilical stem cells. My goal for this coming year is to try HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen—immunologically matched tissues and blood) typed umbilical stem cells which are considerably more expensive: $32,000 for testing, searching for a match, harvesting and administering the cells. However, the benefit to my body would be 200 million matched cells rather than 5 million unmatched cells. I liken this to putting a new engine in an old car rather than getting a tune up. This would be entirely out of pocket for us on top of our other medical expenses.

To help kick off this fundraising effort, our devoted friends, Matt Borst and Kevan Morshed, are again holding a golf tournament in my honor. The 3^rd Annual Nathanael Daggett Lyme Disease Awareness Golf Tournament will take place in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Saturday, October 12, 2013. We are not only looking for more golfers than ever, but also for sponsors and volunteers who would like to help with planning and running this event. Please see the enclosed flyer for details.

A fund has been established in my honor with HELP HOPE LIVE (formerly NTAF) to help with these medical expenses. HELP HOPE LIVE is a non-profit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 28 years. All donations are tax-deductible and are administered by HELP HOPE LIVE for transplant-related expenses only. If you’d like to contribute:

Make checks payable to: HELP HOPE LIVE

Note in memo section: Nathanael Daggett

Mail to: John Daggett, 126 Bishop Lamy Rd., Lamy, NM 87540

If you would prefer to make an online donation you may visit www.helphopelive.org and enter Nathanael Daggett in the “Find a Patient” box on the homepage. You may also find updates from my wife there.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and consider my current needs.

Sincerely,

Nathanael Daggett (and Roxie)

roxiedaggett@gmail.com 

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. This campaign is administered by HelpHOPELive,a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients. Information: 800.642.8399.

Smokin' Hot Raffle for Nathanael!

With Christmas and Chanukah right around the corner, you can't afford not to do this! Email roxiedaggett@gmail.com to place your ticket order!!!

3rd Annual Golf Tournament: October 12th in Santa Fe, NM!

Little Man Keats

One of our bestest friends, Meag Diamond, and her little man Keats came to visit us for a weekend this past July before heading to Guatemala to retrieve hubby-papa Jose. It was a real treat to get to meet one of my dear friends' adorable babies that seem to be growing up so quickly. I have missed meeting so many of them when they are this size!

Orale, amiguito!!                              N's beloved caregiver, Maria, with Keats.

 N and Keats were fast friends.

 Doesn't he go perfectly with the Turkish rug!!!???

 Keats and Meag enjoyed walking through the garden each morning. This guy loves trees and stares at them intently. He was completely self-entertained and rarely cried at all. A calming little presence.

Flora was representing the English Staffy nanny dog lovin'! She always tried to sneak her way to him to make sure he was comfy cozy. I highly recommend this breed for entertaining and watching over children! No better devotion and playfulness could be asked for!

Paco, our other English Staffy, was a bit shocked that something cuter than him came around. He was anxious about losing his status as best number one son so he constantly tried to lick Keats to assert his dominance, but eventually got adjusted to his descent on the totem pole.

How can you compete with this?

Thank you, Sweet Meag and LMK for visiting your auntie and uncle and perritos in Lamy! We love you so!!!

Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

Franco flew out and took N's momma, Cho, and me for a long Memorial Day Weekend girl's get-a-way to Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. The setting was magical and the food was sublime. All grown on site and slowly cooked. I highly recommend saving your shekels to stay there at least once in your lifetime.

Bon Appetit magazine recently rated it the #6 Food Lover's Hotel in the U.S. Yes, folks, it really is in Albuquerque... in the old ranch district near the Rio Grande. With peacocks.

Each night I had stress dreams about missing breakfast. Housemade granola, farm fresh milk, hand pressed juices, hot bisquits, blue corn pancakes, breakfast chilaquiles... all in a sunlit dining room.

Dinner was off da chart, too...

What are you waiting for?

You walk across this old courtyard to check in with the inn keeper.

super jolly after dinner rollicking in the main sala! hee hee hee... no cookin'! 

La Merienda is the restaurant and they constantly change dining rooms based on special parties so you never know which romantic space you'll be eating in. Very fun.

Moon rising over the old willow tree...

We also took a day trip to Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continually inhabited community in the U.S. We got to take a tour atop the 800 year old mesa where residents still live to this day. 

These are the old foot and hand holds the Acomas used to go up and down for centuries. 


We woke up by the old willow tree and lotus pond each morning and strolled over to breaky.
So very nice...

                             Good morning, Kevin.

Albert and Kevin, the resident peacocks, screamed all night like guard dogs. Apparently, that is one of their ingrained duties so the inn kindly provides earplugs on your bedstand to prevent sleep loss.

Meyer lemon mousse with homemade poppyseed cake cusped in blackberry compote was just one amazing comestible...

Thanks, Franco--and JD for taking care of N and dogs--for such a wonderous trip! It was awesome.