Posted at: 07/31/2009 10:40 PM
Updated at: 07/31/2009 10:59 PM
By: Rindi Cooper

Print Story  Email to a Friend

Dodge County Relay for Life

(ABC 6 NEWS)--- It's something that many of us couldn't even imagine taking a child to the hospital for a cough, and finding out it's something much more, but that is the story for one local family.

For that family this year's Relay for Life came at just the right time.

Last week Yvonne and Todd Braun brought their 10-year-old son to Kasson hospital.

"He wasn't drinking very much cause he had this cold that had come on for about three weeks just a nuisance cough here and there more so at night," said Yvonne Braun.

Just one week later, Nathan is now at Saint Mary's where he is being treated for a very rare type of Leukemia.

So rare it only affects 7,000 kids a year.

"We just take it a day at a time, it's been so overwhelming from the diagnosis to the help."

Nathan is going through his third chemotherapy session this week.

He will continue chemo for the next three years and the Brauns are finding a way to keep looking forward.

"We know we get to take our boy home when this is all said and done, no matter what. There are others that don't have that opportunity."

And to help them through this situation people from all over the community have come to support Nathan by fundraising, making t-shirts, and forming a team for this year's Relay for Life.

"All are helping this boy and it's unbelievable," said Todd Braun.

More than 40 of Nathan's classmates, friends, and teachers came out to this year's Relay for Life to support the Brauns, some sharing the same hairstyle as Nathan.

"We want him to get well very soon so he can come out and play with us," said classmate Tyler Wanous.

"Nathan has cancer and we want to support him," said DJ Allen.

“We're praying for him, and we want everybody to know that we need to fight the battle," said Cindy Rendler, neighbor and organizer.

And finding the right words to say thank you is something the Brauns are still trying to find.

"When I look into my heart to find something more powerful than thank you, I don't know what to say but that is what our family says is thank you," said Todd Braun.