ReportHe's Halfway to a Cure — Province Still Won't PayAired September 13, 2026 at 6:54 AM UTCWritten September 13, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:11A BC boy is halfway to a cure.0:13The province hasn't paid a cent.0:15Nathan Hepburn is nine years old, his brain condition can rupture and kill, and the0:19only specialized treatment that can cure it is in Germany.0:22The province is reviewing his family's appeal, but there's no decision, no timeline,0:26and the family's money is running out.0:27The family has raised $195,000.0:31About $140,000 went to the two treatments completed so far.0:35About $55,000 remains, earmarked for the third treatment needed to finish the job.0:39Transvenous embolization is the technique, a specialized approach that reaches the0:44malformation from the venous side and closes it off in stages.0:48That's why it takes multiple treatments, and why Nathan is only halfway there.0:52The treatment is not available in Canada in the form Nathan needs.0:55The specialist associated with it is Dr.0:57Renee Chapot at Alfred Krupp Hospital in Essen, and the doctors consulted on1:02Nathan's case called it the best option.1:04The treatment is in Essen, Germany, thousands of kilometers from North Vancouver.1:09and paid for by donations.1:10The family, backed by medical groups and the official opposition, calls the1:14treatment proven.1:15The province calls it experimental and has denied funding, and its review of the1:19family's appeal is still underway.1:21Nathan's mother, Natasha, a registered nurse, organized the fundraising.1:26The BC Nurses Union president, Adrian Gere, wrote to the health minister.1:30The opposition health critic, Dr.1:32Anna Kindy, called again on June 29th for the province to pay.1:35Nathan was diagnosed at age five with the most serious grade of this rare1:39malformation.1:40In March, the province denied funding.1:42The family appealed in June.1:44In August, Nathan completed his second round of treatment in Germany.1:48Now he's halfway to a cure and the appeal is still sitting in administrative review.1:52The ministry says an administrative review is underway.1:55The same response the family has heard since June.1:58There is no announced timeline or outcome.2:00And the roughly $55,000 remaining may not cover the full cost of the third2:04treatment.2:05The classification fight, experimental versus proven, remains unresolved by anyone2:10with authority to settle it.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗