Wolves Honor Nick Nelson

When Michael Doleac takes the floor, he has to make decision after decision: shoot, pass or drive?

Choice, choice, choice. Life is full of them.

But for one nine-year-old, one choice was much bigger than any decision on the basketball court. This particular choice involved the ability to walk -- and to seek a better life. The Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation honored 9-year-old Nick Nelson during the Wolves’ 109-89 loss to Charlotte on Tuesday.

“I don’t know much of (Nick’s) story,” said Doleac. “But obviously his choice doesn’t compare to the choices we have to make (as NBA players).”

Nick had the opportunity to meet Doleac and Mark Madsen, whom signed Timberwolves memorabilia, before the game.

According to kare11.com, Nick was born with Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome, making it difficult and painful to walk. Nick was reduced to a wheelchair most of his childhood. So the youngster made a difficult choice: to amputate his leg.

Nick and his family joined Timberwolves President Chris Wright at midcourt during a timeout in the second quarter, receiving a signed basketball by Wolves players and a standing ovation.

The Nelson family has already been the recipient of abundances of support. First featured on Kare 11, then on the NBC Nightly News, followed by NBC’s Today Show and now as a featured guest of the Wolves, Nick is the first to admit that the support has helped him through a life-changing situation.

“The support that I’ve had has been great, especially when I went to Colorado,” Nelson said. “I met some Olympic athletes. They know what I am going through.”

Although the decision was a tough one, Nick and his mother Brenda maintain that it was the right choice.

“It was a pretty hard decision,” Nick said. “I think it was a good decision to make. I have no regrets about it.”

“It was a tough decision but at the same time it was an easy one because the promise of a new life for him and the ability for him to do things he’s never been able to do before,” Nick’s mother added.

Nick is learning to walk with his new artificial limb, a process that came quicker than expected.

“It took some time to learn, but after 10 minutes (smiling), I was walking," Nick said. “I can run, I can jump. I have a whole new life.”