Growth Hormone Deficiency Research - Gnarly Nate

Many people have asked me what the 12 on my shirt stands for. Not many people know this about me, but as a kid I always grew up as the shortest and smallest kid in my school. I was always picked on, bullied, and underestimated. I went through difficult, dangerous, and challenging times in this part of my life, and believe it or not, the definition of gnarly is just that. Gnarly: (adj.) difficult, dangerous, or challenging, hence the name Gnarly Nate. No matter what the obstacles have been throughout my life, I have chosen to conquer and overcome them all. Now it is time to help inspire the world to do the same! 

At the age of 12 I was diagnosed with Growth hormone deficiency. This happens when the pituitary gland in your brain fails to produce growth hormone in your body, stunting growth in multiple areas of the body. For years, I had no idea what was wrong with me, and at that moment I knew my life was going to look a little different. From that day on I took shot after shot of prescribed growth hormone to help my body grow to the best of its ability. The bullying didn't stop... ever. Attempting to play sports during these years of my life was extremely brutal, I was always viewed as the underdog and never given the chance to prove myself and my athletic capabilities. I sat on the sidelines EVERY SINGLE GAME because I was just simply "not good enough." So I quit. It took me a long time to get over the fact that I wasn't good enough for any team or anybody in general just because, I was short. There was a point in my life where I chose to overcome the battle of growth hormone deficiency and stop caring about how tall I was going to be or what people thought about me. This was also around the time I began training for my favorite show in the world, American Ninja Warrior. Ninja Warrior brought me back to life and began to show me what I was truly meant and built to do. I was meant to inspire others to overcome obstacles no matter how difficult, dangerous, or challenging they may be. To face the biggest of bullies and never let someone tell you that are simply "not good enough." 

Join me in beginning a new movement. A movement that will change and inspire millions around the world. I'm raising money to benefit Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation: Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation exists solely to support Children's Hospital Colorado. Its mission is to improve the health of children through the provision of high-quality coordinated programs of patient care, education, research and advocacy.