(and the motivation behind starting Nate's Place)
Our son, Nathan (Nate) Rhoades lived a full life with much passion. As a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer at Gold’s Gym he helped others get fit and live healthy lives. He loved fitness, boxing, weight lifting, music, and anything athletic, involving sports. He was a unique individual who had a big heart. Surrounded by tons of friends and a long-term girlfriend, he was always supporting & cheering people on.
Nate had a tough start in life born 12 weeks premature, weighing just over 2 lbs. He remained in the hospital for almost 2 months, before he came home.
Because of this, he grew up battling health issues but was able to manage by living a healthy lifestyle and diet.
When Nate was 14 years old, he became addicted to drugs. We sent him to a substance abuse treatment center to receive the help he needed.
He overcame his addiction through the help of residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, ongoing counseling, attending 12-step meetings and working a program.
(story continued below)
Included is the Honor Walk on 1/25/2022 at Ventura County Medical Center where Nate’s friends and family gathered along the halls of the hospital to say good-bye and cheer him on for helping save the lives of so many. He was then wheeled into the operating room where 14 surgeons were waiting. His organs, tissue, and bone marrow were donated to others.
Nate truly lives on in the lives of others!
However, the key element to Nate’s ongoing recovery was a Peer Support Recovery Coach, Kyle, who we hired for 1.5 years. He spent 3-4 days per week with Nate, mentoring him, taking him to 12-step meetings and introducing Nate to weight lifting and music.
Kyle, who at the time was 24 years old, had been in recovery himself. He had a huge positive influence on Nate.
Kyle showed Nate that as a teenager and adult, he could live a happy and fulfilling life, clean, sober and stable.
Nate threw himself into his recovery. On his high school football team, he was named defensive MVP. He went on to become a body builder, a boxer and someone who loved to help others.
Sadly Nate passed away on January 20, 2022 at the age of 21 after a car accident involving a semi-truck.
Nate was brain dead almost instantly after the accident but the rest of his body was in excellent shape due to his healthy lifestyle. We were able to donate all of his organs to recipients waiting for a transplant, something Nate would have done in a heartbeat.
Since Nate’s death, we have heard from countless friends of his and people who we did not know. They said that Nate was one of a few people who regularly checked in on them when they were struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues.
Nate was so loving and caring. He encouraged his friends on whatever difficult journeys they were on.
We have been so struck by the support our son Nate provided to others, that we started a non-profit, 501c3, Nate’s Place, A Wellness and Recovery Center, to honor the way he lived.
Nate's Place, A Wellness and Recovery Center embodies the "Recovery Recipe" that worked for Nate.
Heidi Allison and Larry Rhoades (Nate’s Parents)
Nate's first childhood friend Emily Ricks wrote and dedicated this beautiful song to Nate's life.
