Adams County Christian School graduate Nathan Redfield has grown closer to God dealing with sadness and death in his own family.

Redfield was just 11 when his mother, Debbie Redfield, was diagnosed with cancer.

Although she recovered from the disease, Nathan’s father, Doug Redfield was diagnosed with skin cancer soon afterwards.

Unlike his wife, Doug was unable to recover and died three years ago.

But Nathan said the experience brought him closer to God and also bonded his family together.

&uot;It grew our whole family just so close,&uot; he said. &uot;Through all the bad that happened, I can’t tell you how much good came (out) of it.&uot;

At one point during his illness, his father decided not to take any more chemotherapy because he was feeling so sick, Nathan Redfield said.

Thankfully, a friend talked him into taking one more treatment. &uot;He told him, ‘You can’t give up, you have a family and give them as as much time as you can,’&uot; Nathan said.

That last treatment extended his father’s life for two more months.

&uot;I thank God for that,&uot; Nathan said.

He described those last two months of his father’s life as a gift from God.

&uot;We talked about things during that time that I’ll never forget,&uot; he said.

&uot;We all knew it was just a matter of time so we cherished that big time.&uot;

Redfield wrote an essay about the experience and submitted it last fall to the Guidepost Young Writers Contest.

Guidepost, a Christian magazine, awarded scholarships to students who placed the contest. Redfield’s entry earned an honorable mention — meaning he placed in the second 10 out of more than 5,000 entries. He received a $250 scholarship for his freshman year at Mississippi College.

Redfield said he was surprised to be selected.

&uot;I didn’t think anything was going to come out of it,&uot; he said.

And he said it was a &uot;great honor&uot; to earn an honorable mention, especially when so many people participated.

Redfield said he has spoken publicly about the events of his life. He has this advice for people who go through similar situations. &uot;Know that God is going to be there for you,&uot; he said. &uot;He’ll help you out.&uot;