Young Utah Sports Fan Passes Away After Battle With Cancer

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Seven-year-old Utah sports fan Nixon Whatcott has passed away after a long battle with cancer.

KSL Sports ran a story on Nixon and the inspirational journey he undertook while battling cancer in January.

“Nixon growing up, has always been a fun guy, fun-loving guy, loves anything to do with sports,” his mother, Jenessa, told Jeremiah Jensen in the story.

A huge fan of sports, especially football, Nixon would occasionally return home from playing with his friends complaining of pain in his leg. After a few weeks, his parents took him to the hospital, where they received the heartbreaking news.

Nixon was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer that had spread from his femur to his lungs.

Sad to report that 7-year old Nixon Whatcott has passed away. He battled osteosarcoma for 16 months. We shared his story on @kslsports in January https://t.co/TNNp7VnWXB Our prayers go out to Nick, Jan and the boys. Please help if you can https://t.co/KjDieCn6GY pic.twitter.com/hJP9w58OG0

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) June 26, 2019

He had his femur removed and underwent a rotationplasty, a miraculous procedure in which his ankle and foot were essentially moved up to serve as his knee.

Thanks to the procedure, Nixon was able to walk and move around on a prosthetic device.

Along the way, he maintained the happy and playful attitude that endeared him to his parents and friends.His parents said he never once asked “why me?” He continued to play sports and enjoy many of the same activities from his pre-illness days.

Former Highland High School star and recently-retired NFL player Haloti Ngata took notice of Nixon’s story and offered to help create a memorable experience for him.

While Nixon was undergoing treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital, he was introduced to Ngata. A few months later he was invited by Ngata to be a guest at one of his games while he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

RSL players were honored to have Nixon Whatcott as their Kick Childhood Cancer game day captain. #NixonStrong #ScarvesUp pic.twitter.com/ZdnNc0P36C

— RSL Foundation (@RSLfoundation) September 19, 2018

For the Whatcotts, it was an incredible experience to spend time with Ngata and his family. They were able to forget about the heartache and difficulties of Nixon’s illness.

Seeing Philadelphia’s iconic Rocky Balboa statue and the running the same stairs at the Art Museum that Sylvester Stallone’s character paced in the movies were highlights of a great weekend.

At the Eagles game, during Ngata’s pregame warmups, he made sure to stop by and hug Nixon as his team took the field.

Football is cool, but being able to be around people like this guy is my favorite part. #BYUFootball #NixonStrong pic.twitter.com/akliO0VVWY

— Dylan Collie (@23Collie) June 17, 2018

For Nixon’s father, Nick, the experience was emblematic of how much his son’s story had been embraced by the local and global community.

“There have been so many incredible, incredible things happen with people, and not only with the community, but throughout the entire country,” Nick said. “There were definitely some days that were struggles early on, but I feel so blessed.”

After 16 months of battling his disease, Nixon passed away on Tuesday night.

“We will always love and miss him. He taught us to love life and love it to the fullest no matter what and did it with a smile on his face. We love you so much Nixon you will forever be our NixonStrong. Well done good and faithful soldier,” his parents wrote on the NixonStrong Facebook page.

A Go Fund Me page to help the Whatcott family with outstanding medical bills has been set up.