Nathaniel Healy

Obituary NATHANIEL "NATE" HEALY Our beloved sweet boy "Natnael" "Nathaniel" "Nati" "Nate Dog" "Nate the Great" left this earth to be with Jesus on February 9, 2016, following his heroic three-and-a-half-year battle with Leukemia. Though often suffering and in pain, our brave warrior Nate maintained his kind heart, charm, and sense of humor throughout. Nate employed laughter to combat sadness. He possessed graciousness and a concern for others well beyond his fourteen years. Whether at Drum Intermediate School, in his Berkshire neighborhood with family and friends, or wherever life took him Nate was compassionate, fun loving, and outgoing toward all. He was attentive with children and the first to stick up for a kid being bullied. Nate held a toy drive for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. He organized the drive and collected the toys himself. Nate was a bright young guy always asking such intelligent and mature questions. He was an excellent problem solver. He loved working with his hands. He also loved science and math and achieved student of the month. With a glint in his eye he talked of someday attending Stanford University or the University of Washington. Nate enjoyed sports, especially basketball and football. He played until his disease took over. His handwritten note states: "Ball is Life." His favorite teams were the Miami Heat, the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Giants, and the Washington Huskies. He relished wearing sport caps and colorful clothes of his favorite teams. Nate cried tears of joy on January 10th when the Minnesota Vikings missed the field goal sending his Seattle Seahawks to the next round in the NFC playoffs. The last game Nate was truly able to watch. Nate liked foot rubs and video games. He enjoyed earning money through chores and spending it. He liked Ethiopian food (Meskel Restaurant) and Subway sandwiches. He loved his music and his "Beats." He enjoyed boating, tubing, snowboarding, and dancing. He liked going to the mall, movies, and the Seattle waterfront. He liked cooking. Nate loved his pets: Chloe, Buddy, and Paddy. Nate was proud of being in remission and of almost reaching the first anniversary of his transplant. He jogged the entire length of the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital tunnel in December, stating: "I never thought I'd be able to walk or jog the whole thing." He was so proud of that. That same month Nate enjoyed the Mary Bridge Oncology Christmas Party. He almost finished putting together his Christmas robot, Meccanoid. He'd planned to return to school this month to be with his friends. Our beloved sweet boy we are sad, really sad, and sorry. We miss you so. You were an inspiration to so many, and we are better people for knowing and loving you. We are sad. Nate recalled selling fruit on the side of the road in Ethiopia and using the money to help feed his family. He remembered his parents dying and being placed in the Kidane Meheret Orphanage with his younger brother, Abel. The Zacapu's (Sergio and Laci) brought Nate and Abel to America in 2010 before they came to live with the Healy's (Tim and Jennifer) in 2011. The Healy's adopted Nate and Abel in 2012. Nate was proud of his Ethiopian heritage. He often talked of visiting Ethiopia with his family. Nate loved his parents, Tim and Jennifer Healy, Sergio and Laci Zacapu, Abebe Alemu and Selam Sewenet; brothers, Abel and Brendan Healy, Mateo Zacapu; sisters, Angelina, Beza, Ariana, Hana, Isabella and Olivia Zacapu; cousins, Tyler Healy, Liam Axlen, Brody and Bryson Ostrander; aunts, Kate Healy-Nieves, Michelle Axlen, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Yeshihareg, Emie, Abayie, Atsede, Tenna, and Masresha; uncles, Rudy Neives, Jeff Ostrander, Dereje Mekonene, and Elias; great aunt and uncle, Kendra and Dennis Fitzpatrick; grandma, Betty Christen; grandpas Jim Healy and Lyle Ostrander; great grandma, Ruby Ostrander; close friends, Johnson Johnny, Derek Jones (D.J.), Jonathan and Claire Nix, Miles and Sayaka Spivey, Keegan and Kyler Stancato, Slater Strickland, Mac Vukich, Aolin Xu; teachers and mentors, Karen Ash, Carolyn Mills, Amy Bishop, Barb Bristow, Ryan Douglas, Doug Wing, Belaynesh Chera, and many other family members and friends. Funeral Service and Celebration of Nate's life will be held at University Place Presbyterian Church, 8101 - 27th St W, University Place, WA 98466 on Friday, February 19, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. A reception to follow. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Nate's family wishes to thank Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle Center Care Alliance, Pete Gross House, Drum Intermediate School, Sowing Roots, Discovery Community Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church and University Place Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nate's name to: Strong Against Cancer, https://give.strongagainstcancer.org, or: Sowing Roots, www.sowingroots.org. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home (253) 572-6003.