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NAPLES, Fla. - The loudest ovation at The Franklin Templeton Shootout was not aimed at a golfer, rather a 5-year-old cancer survivor who tipped his cap to the gallery as he walked alongside Greg Norman toward the 18th green.
Nicholas Marchitto had a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Last week, he and his family were guests of Greg and Laura Norman, who founded the Shootout in 1989 to raise money and awareness for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Nicholas, accompanied by his parents, caught up with Norman's foursome at the eighth hole Sunday and walked the rest of the way inside the ropes.
 | | From left, Nick Marchitto, Greg Norman, Nicholas and Laura Norman at Thursday's Pro-am awards dinner. |
Television cameras picked up Nicholas waving a towel in the air, tipping his cap to the gallery near the 18th green and even helping Norman line up a birdie putt on the final hole, which Norman missed.
"He actually read the last putt right," Norman said, holding his hands 8 inches apart to show Nicholas' read and 4 inches apart to show his own read. I missed it by that much, so I guess he was right. He's got a future."
Nicholas got a slew of souvenirs from the pros, then got a ride in Norman's helicopter after the trophy presentation. After the long day, Nicolas asked his parents if he could go home and hit more golf balls.
"That's what we're here for," Norman said. "A year ago, Nicholas was lucky to be on this planet. Here he is today without a cancer cell in his body. He loves golf. I wanted him to enjoy it as much as he possibly could. It gives us all goose bumps when we have the ability to give a kid like that and other kids an extension on their lives."
Nicholas was diagnosed with the rare pediatric cancer a year ago. It attacked his renal system, and at one point he was given less than a week to live. Aggressive chemotherapy and radiation cleared the cancer from his body. He is currently cancer-free.
After the round, Nicholas gave high-fives to Norman, Fred Couples, Fred Funk and Len Mattiace. Tournament director Gina Monterossi inscribed an inspiring message on the top of Nicholas's cap.
Two days earlier, Nicholas and Norman were hitting practice balls next to each other on the driving range at Tiburón. "Mom, did you see it?" Nicolas asked, face beaming the way a 5-year-old's face beams. "I ripped the tee right in half."
That Nicolas could swing a golf club or laugh or go to kindergarten seemed unfathomable 18 months ago. It was a journey that tested the ability of doctors, the resolve of the Marchitto family, and most of all, the strength of Nicolas.
Through it all, Nicolas kept swinging his golf clubs. "That's the one thing he would always summon enough energy to do," his mother, Sherri Marchitto, explained.
Sherri and Nick Marchitto consider themselves blessed. It's hard to think otherwise, when you consider what their son overcame.
Nicolas was first diagnosed in April 2001. The tumor that originated in his prostate gland grew to three pounds. His weight dropped from 51 to 31 pounds.
The tumor could not be removed when doctors discovered veins growing inside it. It blocked his urethra. When the cancer spread to his right lung, doctors gave Nicolas a week to live. "At that point, you just spend a lot of your time praying," Sherri explained.
Chemotherapy and radiation shrunk the tumor and cleared his lungs. There were drugs and shots and long hospital stays, but each week Nicolas transformed from a terminal patient to a healthy, growing boy.
Nicolas has been cancer-free for six months, and his weight is back up to 58 pounds. "Every day we are thankful for our son's health," Sherri said.
On Friday, Nicolas followed Norman inside the ropes for 18 holes. "He knows who Greg Norman is," Sherri said. "He's one of his idols."
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