A B.C. nurse is looking for answers and hope after her child was denied funding by the government for a medical treatment in Germany that was recommended by professionals across the country.
Daily Hive spoke with Natasha Hepburn, a North Vancouver resident and the mother of Nathan, an eight-year-old who is dealing with a complex and potentially life-threatening brain condition.
At around age five, Nathan was diagnosed with a large, complex Grade 4 brain arteriovenous malformation, or AVM.
The condition is rare, and Hepburn says there’s no solution in the form of a cure in North America.
“When Nathan was first diagnosed, we were hopeful. We were told radiation treatment could help reduce the AVM over time. As parents, we trusted the process and did what we were advised, believing we were moving toward safety. Instead, everything changed,” Hepburn wrote in a GoFundMe that is almost halfway to its goal.
Hepburn told Daily Hive that for the past several years she’s been living “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
AVM is sometimes described as an abnormal tangle of blood vessels and is a leading cause of brain bleeds. Nathan has also experienced microhemorrhages. The condition has led to Nathan forgetting how to read. His vision has also been impacted, as has his ability to walk.
Hepburn, fighting tears throughout our conversation, told Daily Hive that the family has been travelling across North America for answers.
“As his mother, I can’t even tell you. There’s no words to describe the helplessness of watching your child just lying there in a hospital bed and knowing that you would take his pain away in an instant if you could,” she said.
After speaking with leading clinics, Hepburn said there’s nothing further they can do in North America, and that they found a world-renowned doctor in Germany, who informed the family that a cure was possible.
In March 2026, the family travelled to Germany, where Nathan underwent the first stage of the treatment.
“He eliminated the most dangerous aneurysms. For the first time in years, we were given a glimpse of a future where Nathan could be free of this ticking time bomb,” Hepburn shared.
Nathan’s treatment has to be conducted in stages, and B.C. and Canadian medical professionals have written letters of support for the medical necessity of completing this treatment in Germany.
However, the B.C. government denied funding for out-of-country treatment and called the treatment into question, with Hepburn claiming they said it’s not proven to be effective, despite the treatment showing positive results in Germany this past March.
“Our family has been forced into an unimaginable position of having to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Even Linda Buchanan, the mayor of North Vancouver, wrote a letter to B.C. Minister of Health Josie Osborne.
“I am writing to respectfully but urgently request that you reconsider the decision to deny funding for Nathan Hepburn,” Buchanan wrote.
Hepburn reached out to the Canada Health Act Division, which told her, “each province and territory has the authority to determine whether out-of-province or out-of-country care is appropriate for its residents.”
Ministry of Health response
Hepburn has appealed the government’s decision to deny funding.
We reached out to the ministry, which gave Daily Hive a short response, with a tinge of hope.
“While we can’t go into details of this case out of respect for patient privacy and confidentiality, we can say a review of the application is currently underway by the Ministry of Health.”
The ministry told Daily Hive that upon completion of the review, the family will be notified in writing of the decision and next steps.
We contacted the B.C. Ministry of Health late last week, and so far, Hepburn hasn’t heard back yet about funding for Nathan’s medical treatment.
You can learn more about Nathan and his progress on the GoFundMe page.