{"id":218104,"date":"2017-12-24T13:39:57","date_gmt":"2017-12-24T18:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1.tempurl.host\/?p=218104"},"modified":"2017-12-24T13:39:57","modified_gmt":"2017-12-24T18:39:57","slug":"leesburg-man-continues-cancer-battle-martial-arts-prays-christmas-miracle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thegraphicgeek.com\/demo-cflwire\/leesburg-man-continues-cancer-battle-martial-arts-prays-christmas-miracle\/","title":{"rendered":"Leesburg Man Continues Cancer Battle Through Martial Arts, Prays For A Christmas Miracle"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chris Nataline (center) stands with trainers Annie and David Iturrino at Brigadeiro Mount Dora Jiu Jitsu in Eustis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chris Nataline, 38, of Leesburg has been battling non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer since his stage 4 diagnosis in 2010. Soon after the birth of his first daughter, he received the life-threatening news that changed his course in life in order to survive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought I was tired all the time because we had a newborn,\u201d Nataline said. \u201cAfter hearing that I was stage 4, it was easy to go into a dark place. I had already been through so much in my life and I can see why people give up because this world is really hard. That\u2019s when I turned to martial arts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout his chemo treatments, Nataline continued to train, saying he\u2019d rather leave this world as a warrior than a coward.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy friend kept encouraging me and working with me to get out of bed and hit the pads,\u201d he said. \u201cIt really kept my mind off of the dark places and got my aggression out.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the chemo wasn\u2019t having an effect on the tumors located in his right lung, lymph nodes and vertebrae. Thankfully, he qualified for a new targeted therapy in clinical trials which shrank the tumors 60 percent in the first six weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were beautiful results,\u201d Nataline said. \u201cThey told me that I\u2019d never be able to do martial arts again and that I\u2019d only live for a year, but that was seven years ago and I\u2019m still on the mats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the years, Nataline has gone back and forth through remission. After being kicked in the neck in a Kung Fu lesson, a tumor was discovered in his spinal chord that if left unfound, would have paralyzed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore radiation and more treatments but the doctors couldn\u2019t believe I was<\/p>\n

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Chris Nataline hits the mats in Jiu Jitsu training at Brigadeiro Mount Dora Jiu Jitsu in Eustis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

still walking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Another surprise came when his wife, Karen, found out she was pregnant with their second daughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s our miracle baby,\u201d he said. \u201cWe weren\u2019t supposed to be able to have kids but we prayed for another child. They are now 8 and 4 and the most amazing part of my life. I teach them never to quit no matter what and that you can\u2019t allow yourself to go into those dark places.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Nataline is undergoing more radiation for tumors located on his brain and right lung while waiting to hear if he qualifies for another clinical trail. He continues to train at Brigadeiro Mount Dora Jiu Jitsu in Eustis under David and Annie Iturrino, where he says he has found a family unlike any other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis place has seen miracles happen,\u201d Nataline said. \u201cThis is a great place for my family and they work with me through my trials.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Christmas, Nataline is praying for a miracle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be around to take care of my mother and father,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to see my kids grow up and I want to grow old with my wife. Whatever I have to do, I\u2019ll do, but I know it\u2019s all in God\u2019s hands. 2017 has been the hardest year for me yet but I want to be a beacon for people in dark places. You don\u2019t get to choose the path, but you can choose the attitude.\u201d