A boy named Nathan Raun

     I write today about a young boy, Nathan Raun. Born on August 5th, 1985, a healthy baby boy, joining a family of another brother and a mother and father who were eagerly awaiting his arrival. Chris and Teresa Raun, elated by his arrival, held him in their arms with love and tenderness as any good parents do. Never expecting that the coming years would bring challenges and heartaches that are incomprehensible to the average parent. 

     Nathan grew. Loving sports and the normal things a growing boy would enjoy and all the while with a fun and loving, joyful attitude that carried on even throughout his sickness. He was smart and enjoyed making people laugh and was just an all-around lovable kid. His family was blessed, and still are. Only now, Nathan comforts them from Heaven.

     At age 12, in 1997, Nathan was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiform brain tumor. Grade IV. It is the most aggressive type of tumor which doubles its size in a matter of 2 weeks. It was the size of a lemon. Surgery removed the tumor but the invisible cells were still lingering in his brain tissue. So he had chemotherapy for four big rounds and then 36 brain radiation treatments. I quote from his mother, Teresa, "he did not complain and did everything he was told to do. He had great hope that God would heal him!  "God can do anything!". He believed this with all of his heart. 

     Being diagnosed with this brain cancer, he and his parents and other family members walked that path of faith and surrender. Difficult as it was, I sense the surrounding of God and the Angels and the Saints always being around them when the low times would hit. But Nathan, even in a condition of blindness and confusion between night and day, would always build them up and reassure them that Heaven is real, and that he would be able to do so much more once he got there. 

     Nathan Raun died on November 25th, 1998. The comfort that he brought will never be forgotten. He will never be forgotten. The strength of faith is fortified by his memory. His mother, Teresa, speaks publicly to families and children in hopes that anyone who hears the story of this sweet "Saint to be" will have the courage and surrender to God's Holy Will, that was given to them as a gift, because of their constant surrender. 

      Free from the troubles and sorrows of this world, Nathan is able to constantly be a light to all who ask him to intercede for them. He died with the light of God, as a lamp at his feet and so remains a light in Heaven. This sweet boy would be 40 years old now in earthly years, but now remains forever, the child he greeted our Lord with when he retreated from this world. That is one amazing difference between Heaven and Earth. 

     Losing a child, especially at such a tender age, is probably one of the hardest things a parent can go through. God, in His infinite knowledge and mercy chooses. We may never understand why, only when we arrive ourselves to ask Him that very question. But those like Chris and Teresa Raun understand. It has made the bond between them and their faith strong as a rock, joyful in their recollection of such a short time they had with Nathan, not dwelling on the misery, but the honest joy that this trial has revealed. Still missing him but knowing he is still with them, because of a love, that could never be broken or forgotten because of the love our God has for them, because of the same love He has for all of us.    

     Have this sweet child intercede for you when you are troubled or needing an answer. He is more than willing to help. He wants to help. In his library of petitions, he sits and reads them all, one by one. Then going to the Throne of God, lays them at our Lord's feet, asking Him to read them. 

     Nathan Raun, intercede for us sweet boy and tell our beloved God and His sweet Mother Mary that we love them. May our sweet guardian angels hand deliver our prayers and petitions to your Holy library in Heaven as we also surrender to the Will of God in our own lives. Just as you did. As Nathan would say, "don't take anything for granted, your eyes, or your ears, your words you speak." Knowing at such a young age this old soul had words of Wisdom, let us all heed the words of Nathan, and surrender. 

     To watch a podcast of this remarkable journey of this boy and his parents and family, go to http://youtu.be/6lY2lfqck6g?so=kd4r05A29PrJycPl

     Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.