Colorado Father of Three Dies of Cancer After Public Plea for 'Wonder Drug'

After months of pleading for access to an unapproved cancer drug, a father of three from Denver, Colo. has died.

Nick Auden, 40, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in 2011, a year and a half after having a cancerous mole removed, ABC News reported.

At the time, Auden's wife was pregnant with their third child.

"Some people survive, 90-odd percent don't," Auden told ABC prior to his death. "There's no doubt that was tough news. I had trouble not being emotional about it every time I thought of the concept of not being there to watch the kids grow up."

In a desperate attempt to save his life, Auden participated in a clinical trial of a "wonder drug" made by the company Merck. In previous studies, 52 percent of those taking the highest doses saw their tumors shrink.

However, just hours in Auden experienced stomach pain and, upon calling doctor, decided to go to the hospital where he learned he had a perforated intestine. Audent was instantly disqualified from the trial.

Unable to sleep that night, Auden's wife Amy hatched a plan, launching the petition "Save Locky's Dad" in September.

Time passed, and despite more than 500,000 signatures, Nick Auden was refused the drug. Friday morning he died.

"But this mission is not over," the website dedicated to the cause states. "Nick and Amy's fight and your support of them -- and in the end, Nick's death -- beams a spotlight on a glaring need for change in compassionate access practices for life-saving drugs in late-stage investigational trials.

Messages of support to the family can be emailed at RemberingLockysDad@gmail.com.