Nathan Nicholas Street

Type of Donation:             Tissue donor

Age and Location:             Age 8 – Bakersfield, CA

Donation Date:                  February 17, 2015

Sponsor:                               Honored by JJ’s Legacy

NATHAN’S STORY

Nathan Nicholas Street had a deep love for his family, an unforgettable laugh and a smile that lit up a room.  He was a kind-hearted, funny and gentle kid whose life was ultimately cut far too short by DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).

Nathan was diagnosed with DIPG in January 2014 at age 7; a diagnosis that comes with a zero percent survival rate. He put up a long and hard-fought battle against the disease for 13 months, undergoing a biopsy, two rounds of radiation therapy, full genome sequencing and four separate experimental chemotherapy trials. However, sadly, despite all efforts, he passed away from the disease on February 17, 2015 at age 8.

Following Nathan’s passing, we knew we could not donate his tissue or organs to help give the gift of life to others in need. Therefore, the decision was made to donate his tumor tissue to research where a live cell line was established. Currently, Nathan’s cell line has been shared among doctors worldwide and has been used in numerous research studies across the globe. While the research will never replace Nathan, it is our hope that the advancements made through his tissue donation will lead to countless other lives saved in the future.