By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
ERATH COUNTY (October 20, 2016) – Many people have a list of things they wish to accomplish in their lifetime. Nathan Beatty has a bucket list of his own. Swimming with dolphins, meeting Spiderman, meeting his favorite professional athlete, watching his favorite sports team play, visiting Disney World and Universal Studios…
One by one, the eight-year-old is marking dreams off his list. He met Clint Dempsey. He went to a Seattle Sounders game. Nathan spent some time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, drank some butter beer and rode magical rides.
The younger son of Tara and Clint Beatty, Nathan has shared the once-in-a-lifetime experiences with his family, which also includes his big brother, Colin, 13. The opportunity for the young family to share and create memories that outlast pain, illness and potentially life itself is bittersweet.
“Never in my life did I think I would ever get the chance to swim with a dolphin,” Tara posted on a Facebook page she created in August.
“It has been my dream since I was about 10 years old,” Tara added. “The circumstances with which I was able to achieve this dream suck, but it gave me a moment I will cherish forever. Not only did I get to swim with a dolphin, but I got to have my best buddy beside me! And Nathan got to scratch off another thing on his list.”
Seven days before their son’s eighth birthday, on August 20, Clint and Tara learned he had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). An aggressive and hard-to-treat tumor was growing on Nathan’s brain stem in an area the controls vital functions like breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.
Doctors said Nathan may not live to see his ninth birthday and encouraged the family to focus on making memories before it was too late.
Meanwhile, a treatment regimen was scheduled to improve his quality of life. On October 6, Nathan completed a 30-day radiation treatment schedule that was administered with the goal of reducing the size of the tumor and its symptoms.
Prior to the treatment he had issues with balance and other motor functions.
“Today is a bittersweet day,” Tara posted on October 5. “We just had Nathan’s second to last radiation treatment and while I should be extremely excited for his last treatment tomorrow, I can’t help but feel scared. While going through the treatments you have a purpose… a plan. After treatments, that’s it! You wait around for the tumor to grow back. For when your sweet baby boy starts to go downhill again.”
Like a true hero, Nathan has endured the treatment and returned to his fun-loving, playful self.
While he has been busy traveling the country and enjoying the wonderful things life offer, a special group of individuals has been busy organizing a fundraiser to help make every moment the family has together a magical one.
The Beatty family has been enveloped by family, friends, community members and even strangers, encouraging them to cling to hope – because miracles do happen – and providing emotional and financial support.
And, providing support – heroes helping a hero – is what “A Night for Nathan” is all about.
Set for 6 p.m. Saturday at City Hall at City Limits, the fundraiser was organized by the Clint’s coworkers. Clint is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran and a Texas State Trooper stationed in the Stephenville/Glen Rose area.
Karen Sanchez, Highway Patrol secretary, said live and silent auction donations have come in from law enforcement officials from across the country. She said no matter their jurisdiction or color of their uniform the “brotherhood” is backing the Beatty family.
And, organizers hope to see the entire community turn out for the fundraiser, which will include a brisket dinner, the live and silent auctions and raffle. Entertainment will include live music and an appearance by Jackie Bibby, The Texas Snake Man.
Dinner tickets are $10 each. Several sponsorship tables are still available for $500 each.
“Clint and Tara want to enjoy every moment they have with Nathan, and we are doing everything we can to help them,” Sanchez said. “They are really strong family, and they’re embracing a lifetime of memories in a short period of time.”
Live auction items include firearms; tickets to two Nascar events at Texas Motor Speedway with suite seating, parking all the perks; tickets to see the Dallas Cowboys play Tampa Bay; a guided fishing trip at Possum Kingdom Lake; a four-person quail hunt with Box H Game Birds; signed and framed artwork; autographed sports memorabilia; and more.
The live auction is expected to begin at 8 p.m.
The silent auction will offer an array of gift cards, tickets and gift certificates for restaurants, retailers and for services like Botox injections in Weatherford and yoga sessions at Soul Feet Studios in Stephenville.
“Items are coming in everyday and we welcome more donations,” Sanchez said.
Donations can be left at the driver’s license or highway patrol offices, located at 1229 U.S. Highway 281 – near Hard Eight BBQ – in Stephenville. The offices are open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Raffle tickets for a 55-inch ultra HD television from Gifford TV & Electronics are being sold for $5 each and can be purchased at the highway patrol office or at the Saturday night event.
Anyone who would like to support the Beatty family but cannot attend A Night for Nathan are encouraged to deliver monetary donations to the highway patrol office or First Financial Bank where a Night for Nathan account has been established.
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