Young Minnesota amputee decides to have second leg removed.

No time is that more depressing than gym class. But this year things are different. This year Nick is joining his fellow fourth graders as they play “Capture the Flag.“

“He’s doing great,“ Nick’s mom Greta says from the sidelines. “He’s making me tired.“

For the first time in his life, Nick is standing tall with his fellow classmates. It’s the result of a life-changing choice. Nick’s first choice

When Nick was born ten years ago, doctors immediately noticed a web on the back of each leg. He was eventually diagnosed with something called popliteal pterygium syndrome. Webbing behind the legs is the syndrome’s most common trait.

Doctors made numerous attempts to correct the problem, but his legs simply wouldn’t straighten—especially the right one. As a result, Nick typically used a wheelchair to get around. This frustrated Nick. He wanted to run with his friends. He wanted to climb the monkey bars during recess. So last year, at the age of nine, Nick asked doctors to amputate his right leg.

“Sometimes you have to make hard choices in life,“ Nick said days before the surgery. “And that’s one of them.“

Doctors at Gillette Children’s in St. Paul amputated Nick’s leg at the knee in October 2007. Nick’s brave choice prompted attention from around the country, including two appearances on NBC’s Today Show.

One year later, Nick’s motoring around on his new prosthesis. He joined the sled hockey team last winter and started golfing this summer. New possibilities, old problems. For Nick, the new leg is opening up a new world of possibilities, but old problems linger.

“It feels fine to stand on for two minutes, but then I get kind-of tired and I want to sit down,“ he says.

Nick isn’t just tired. The pain in his left leg can be excrutiating. 

“How much pain are you having in your foot?“ Nick’s surgeon Dr. Mark Dahl asked at an appointment in early September.

“Just when I stand up for a long time, it starts to hurt,“ Nick responds.

Despite the best efforts of his doctors and best hopes of his family, Nick’s battered left leg refuses to defy nature. It just continues to get worse.

“He lives with a kind-of baseline of pain all the time,“ Greta says. “And the fact that he has to have pain everyday is just not acceptable.“

So once again, Nick is making a choice.

“What’s the decision?“ Dr. Dahl asks.

“To amputate the other one,“ Nick says. Nick always knew it was likely. Still, that doesn’t make this decision any easier.

“This is a harder choice,“ Greta says.  “It has definitely weighed on his mind.“

“I’m nervous because this time it’s going to be both of my legs,“ Nick says.  “And I just wonder how I will walk in the future.“

Preparing for surgery, a science lesson at school offers Nick some comfort. Just days before surgery, his classroom’s caterpillar moves into its chrysalis. Mrs. Grace, Nick’s teacher, holds the top of the caterpillar aquarium up high for everyone to see. As the caterpillar hangs, it’s legs fall off and the class screams with excitement.

“These are the legs that come off because he won’t need them,“ Mrs. Grace tells the class. Deep down, Nick knows he won’t need his legs either.

Whenever he gets nervous, he just looks to his hero Rudy Garcia-Tolson. Rudy was also born with popliteal pterygium syndrome. His legs were amputated when he was five years old. Rudy is now a world-class swimmer. He won one gold and one bronze medal at this year’s Paralypic Games in Beijing. Rudy also finds time to call Minnesota from China the night before Nick’s surgery.

“You have a good one and let me know how it goes, OK?“ Rudy tells Nick.

“Alright,“ Nick says. “Thanks.“

Nick is thrilled to hear from Rudy because he’s one of the few people who can truly understand what Nick’s going through. While Nick has been through this process once before, it’s still very emotional. Tears come to his eyes just hours before the surgery.

“I’m gonna miss my leg,“ he tells Greta.

“I’m gonna miss your leg, too,“ she says.

Minutes later, Nick is feeling good enough to sit down for an interview.

“I’m a little scared,“ he says. “I’m just nervous about what will happen. I’m excited at the same time because I’m gonna have a new leg.“

Nick smiles.
. “It’s gonna be the start of another new life.“

The surgery a full moon shines through the early morning fog as Nick’s family returns to Gillette Children’s on September 15. Nick holds tight to his stuffed hamster, named Pellet.

“He’s been through all of my surgeries,“ Nick says with a smile.

Greta takes a pen and signs the bottom of Nick’s foot. “Mommy loves Nick,“ she writes, using a heart symbol. Nick’s family then kisses him goodbye.

“We’ll be here praying for you,“ Nick’s dad Gary says. “You’ll be alright.“

This surgery is similar to the first one. Dr. Dahl amputates Nick’s leg at the knee. A limb that has tortured Nick for ten years is gone in just three hours.When it’s all said and done, and Nick starts to awaken, his parents rush to their son’s side in the pediatric intensive care unit. They say it feels like a decade-long train ride is finally over.

“Suddenly it has pulled into a station and they say get off,“ Greta says with a smile.  “And it’s kind-of this feeling like, what do we do now?“

What they do is move forward with a new leg and new life.  Thank goodness it’s the only choice left. After the surgery, Nick spent 37 days recovering in the hospital. He now hopes to get the new prosthetic for his left leg in late November.

Viewers often ask if the Nelsons need any money. The family doesn’t have any pressing needs at the moment but does anticipate some expenses that aren’t covered by insurance in the near future. 

Donations can be made to:

US Federal CreditUnionc/o Nicklas
Nelson1400 Riverwood Drive
Burnsville, MN 55337