Nolan was born on November 4, 1993; the youngest of
four children. He was very bright and articulate; a mischievous child with a keen sense of humor. His favorite
sport is baseball, both playing and watching the Oakland A's. He was a typical little boy in that he loved
to play outside and dig in the dirt, hunting for snails and bugs. He was an avid reader, and his hobbies include
collecting Pez dispensers, yugi-oh-cards, and recently, coins. He also liked Lego's, video & computer games, and
"Quantum Leap" activity books. He was very shy and sometimes stubborn, but usually good natured, with
a sometimes off-beat quirky side!
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Nolan
began having headaches in the fall of 2002, and shortly after his 9th birthday received a devastating diagnosis: An MRI scan
showed a large tumor in his brainstem, which the doctors declared malignant and inoperable. The neurosurgeons bluntly stated
that Nolan had only a few months left to live.
Conventional medicines and treatments offered no cure. Nolan was subjected
to six weeks of intense radiation treatments and a round of chemotherapy, which would only offer a slight increase in his
life expectancy. He was also taking dexamethasone (Decadron), a powerful steroid, which has very unpleasant side effects,
including extreme bloating of his body and juvenile osteoporosis. His pediatrician referred him to the hospice program, which
immediately enrolled him.
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Nolan's parents began searching for an alternative
treatment and found the Burzysnki clinic in Houston, Texas.
On March 25, Nolan was enrolled in a phase II government-approved
clinical trial of the antineoplaston infusion therapy, which has shown great promise in treating the most difficult forms
of brain cancer. At first it seemed as if the antineoplastons were slowing the tumor's rate of growth; unfortunately,
this aggressive monster was unstoppable and our little boy lost his ability to breath on his own early Sunday morning, August
24. The kind team at Santa Clara Pediatric Intensive Care Unit kept him alive until his father and siblings could arrive
at his bedside to say their last good-byes. Nolan is dearly loved and sadly missed, but our faith sustains us with the promise
and hope of being reunited with him again one day, in the glorious presence of Jesus, for all eternity!
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Please continue praying for our family as we mourn
the very great loss of our sweet little boy. We also ask that you pray for the other children who have been diagnosed
with this terrible affliction, and that one day soon a cure will be found. We know that with God, ALL things are
possible!
Nolan had a heart for God, and we pray that his testimony has impacted the lives of those who loved
him, to place their hope and faith in Christ.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them
and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish;
neither will anyone snatch them out of My hand.
My father, who has given them to Me,
is greater than all;
and no one is able to snatch them out of my
Father's hand."
~John 10:27-29
For questions or comments, please contact
John or Lorraine Loftus at
