Nate had his first heart surgery at age 14 months old. He was born with a coarctation of the aorta. I can't even imagine having my child go through this. Brenda and Sanford are so strong. Nate came through with flying colors and it didn't slow him down! The doctors always told his mom that he would need more surgery probably in his mid-late fifties. Nate has always been active and fit. Well this came well before mid-fifties but here we are. Fast forward to 2026 Nate wasn't feeling the best. He was diagnosed with a Complete Heart Block in January in the midst of Girls Wrestling Season. A few weeks after State Wrestling he went in for a Pacemaker. In typical Stretton Fashion he was back to work and coaching as soon as he could. June rolled around and he was scheduled for his routine Echocardiogram. Unlike the other checkups this one was different. We were advised that Nate's aortic value wasn't functioning as well as it should be. The bloodflow was similar to drinking water from a coffee straw. So the next steps rolled around pretty quickly. Surgery was set for Aug 5th and we were given a slew of tests we needed to complete in July. July was a busy one between trips to the hospital, coordinating kiddos and 4H critters. You can imagine the fun! 😵💫🍀 We survived Fair Week and escaped to Colorado Springs a day early to have a day of rest and family time. Nate has to report today (Tues 8/4) for pre-op and more testing 🧐 Once we know a surgery time we will keep you posted. The Strettons are asking for lots of prayers. Praying for a steady and wise surgical team. Prayers for Nate, you all know he is the quiet type and doesn't share his worries. Praying for Ashli to have a less anxiety and stress so she can focus on Nate. Prayers for the kids as they navigate this scary time with their Daddy. Prayers for his Mom, Dad, Siblings and extended families as they navigate this bumpy road with us. Nate is just ready to get this done and get back to life. Hoping it gives him more energy to do all of the things that have been slowing him down.
Nate is back home and continuing to rest and recover! ❤️ Your support, kindness, prayers, and generosity have meant more to their family than words can express. The meal train schedule has been updated with opportunities to provide meals for the family, if you feel led to do so. As part of Nate’s recovery, it’s important that he follows a heart-healthy diet, so they are asking for meals that include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Thank you so much for continuing to love, pray for, and support Nate and his family during this season of recovery. Your kindness has been such a blessing to them! 🙏❤️