fundraising for nathanael

nathanael in january 2010

nathanael in march 2011 after 5 umbilical stem cell treatments

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing to you on behalf of my husband, Nathanael Daggett. Nathanael is thirty-three-years-old and has a contagious smile, great sense of humor and something cheerful to say even on his worst days. And he has had a lot of them. Nathanael has been struggling with chronic health issues since he was eighteen. After receiving years of incomplete diagnoses ranging from lack of stomach enzymes, to parasites, to mercury toxicity, my husband was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2004, Aplastic Anemia in 2006 (a life-threatening blood cell production disorder), and as a result, advanced Osteoporosis in 2007. He has been on a painful path of slow starvation, and in recent years has become progressively disabled due to bone fractures from such simple movements as getting off the toilet or sitting in his wheelchair for too long.

Nathanael has tried a range of conventional and non-conventional treatments to slow the pace of his deterioration. He has been hospitalized several times and suffered a major seizure in 2007 which left his spine broken in four places. In January 2010, Nathanael’s weight dropped to eighty-five pounds and a catheter was placed in his chest over his heart so that he could receive IV nutrition. In June 2010 he suffered a spinal compression fracture which has left him bed-ridden ever since. When this injury occurred, it was a very heartbreaking time for our whole family. Nathanael began to discuss with us his end-of-life wishes.

In August 2010, Nathanael was given the opportunity to try something he hadn’t yet tried: umbilical stem cell therapy. Miraculously, we received an unsolicited grant which allotted him six stem cell treatments. He has done five so far and the results have been astounding. He has gained nearly 25 pounds, is relearning to walk, and his red and white cell counts have been up for the entire year of 2011. This is the FIRST and ONLY treatment that has helped significantly as evidenced in the pictures above.

Nathanael and I would like the chance for his progress to continue --- for his quality of life to change. We cannot afford to keep up these treatments as the out-of-pocket cost is $4,100 per injection. The recommended dosage is regular injections every six-eight weeks for at least one more year. Our first year goal --- to raise $38,000 to cover the cost of at least seven injections over the next year and additional IV medications.

A fundraising campaign in Nathanael‘s honor has been established with NTAF. NTAF is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 28 years. All donations are tax-deductible and are administered by NTAF for transplant-related expenses only. Any donation would be appreciated more than words can say. To help:

Make checks payable to: NTAF Southwest Stem Cell Transplant Fund
Note in memo section: In Honor of Nathanael Daggett
Mail to:
NTAF
150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120
Radnor, PA 19087

If you would prefer to make a credit card contribution, please call 800-642-8399 or visit http://www.ntafund.org/ and enter Nathanael Daggett in the “Find a Patient” box on the homepage or click this link: transplant fundraiser for nathanael. You may also find updates there.

Thank you for taking the time to read my husband’s story and consider his needs. We understand it’s a lot to ask for a donation, so we would also be grateful for your fundraising ideas, thoughts and prayers on this journey.

With deep appreciation,

Roxie Daggett
roxiedaggett@gmail.com

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. This campaign is administered by the National Transplant Assistance Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients. Information: 800-642-8399.