Dear Friends, Family, Community, and Beyond,
If you’re reading this, chances are Nathan Mills has touched your life in a meaningful way—or you know someone who has been uplifted by his presence.
Nathan was born with a right leg that is 4 inches shorter than his left. For nearly five decades, he has met this challenge with extraordinary resilience: managing daily pain in his leg, hips, neck, and back through yoga, meditation, cold plunges, saunas, healthy eating, and disciplined exercise. Despite his commitment, the battle with gravity and imbalance never truly stops.
There is now a surgery available that can lengthen Nathan’s leg that is far more precise and less invasive than previous options. This would be life-changing. But the healing process will require him to take approximately four to six months off work and undergo at least two operations over the next year.
That’s why we are reaching out to Nathan’s extended community: to come together in support of this profound next chapter.
How You Can Help:
✨ Donate
The primary way to help is to donate to this fundraiser
- Contribute here on GoFundMe
- Venmo: @Nathan-Mills-49
- Or by sending a check: P.O. Box 277, Brightwood, OR 97011
Every gift—whether a drop in the bucket or a big splash—adds up and makes a difference.
✨ Share, Share, and then Share again
Another huge way to help is to spread this campaign on your social media, in your circles, and anywhere people who might want to support us will see it.
✨ Connect
Nathan will be documenting his journey on his YouTube Channel —subscribe for updates.
Reach out to Nathan with encouragement, especially during recovery. He’ll have plenty of literal downtime when not doing physical therapy and will welcome connection.
✨ Support Locally
For those nearby: Heather (Nathan’s wife) may need help with rides to appointments, meal prep, and social connection for both of them while healing through the winter.
✨ Get Creative
If you feel inspired with other ways to help, please let us know. Community care takes many forms.
FAQs
What will the raised funds go toward?
Funds raised here will cover income and living expenses from not being able to work for 4-6 months. (Nathan is a massage therapist and yoga therapist by trade) It will also cover additional therapies that insurance doesn't cover during recovery. There may be additional surgeries depending on the outcome of the first surgery (2-4 over the next 1-3 years).
If, after all procedures, any funds remain, they will be donated to another individual with similar needs or to a facility like Shriners Hospital .
Why now?
Nathan is approaching 50. While his daily practices have sustained him, walking on a 4-inch lift is becoming more difficult with age. Acting now gives his body the best chance to heal and thrive long-term.
Why not sooner?
Over a decade ago, Nathan explored this procedure, but at the time it was only available out-of-state at a prohibitive cost of $200,000+ out-of-pocket. Now, thanks to Dr. Stephen Wallace—an Oregon based specialist in Nathan’s insurance network—the surgery is possible at a fraction of the cost.
What is the recovery timeline?
- Surgery itself: ~1.5 hours
- Lengthening begins after 1 week, reaching approx. 6-7 cm in 10-11 weeks
- Several months of bone consolidation follow
- Walking again without crutches: ~6 months after surgery
- Full healing from first operation: ~1 year post-op
- If greatly successful, a second surgery will follow to complete the correction. Even after just one surgery, Nathan’s lift would be reduced from 4 inches to approx. 2 inches—a significant improvement.
Why This Matters
This surgery isn’t just about lengthening Nathan’s leg—it’s about lengthening his life in balance, reducing daily chronic pain, and opening the door to decades of more ease, presence, and freedom.
With your support, Nathan can walk into this next chapter with more ease and sustainable balance- with both feet on the ground.
With Gratitude,
Nathan, Heather, and Family
