CLEVELAND — Chuck Mercurio said the Sunday back in 2017 was just like any normal Sunday. His sons, Tony and Vinny, decided to go outside to play basketball. They weren’t outside for long when Vinny came in complaining of a headache.
“He just kept laying there saying, ‘It hurts. It hurts,’ and then he started to cry,” said Chuck Mercurio, Vinny’s dad. “I said, ‘Something is wrong.'”
Vinny’s mom, Betty, rushed him to the emergency room. They carried him into the hospital where staff immediately took him for a CT scan. While getting scanned, Vinny’s heart completely stopped. By the time Chuck got to the hospital, Vinny was intubated.
“When you walk in and see your kid with tubes down his throat, you know he’s not breathing on his own, it’s just crazy,” Chuck said.
Vinny had a brain bleed and doctors cautioned the family that he might not make it. However, Vinny had other plans.
“No one would expect he’d be here at Firestone hitting balls,” Chuck said.
Three-and-a-half years later and that’s exactly what he’s doing. He played in the Bridgestone Junior Tournament alongside his younger brother, Tony.
“I’ll just play like I always play,” said Vinny “Hopefully I’ll do good.”
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Golf Charity and The Turn, Vinny has a little help on the course.
“It’s called a paramobile or paragolfer,” said Vinny.
The paramobile helps Vinny get around a little easier as well as get in a good position to hit a ball.
Seeing Vinny surpass all expectations is something his family is grateful for, and they look forward to continue watching him thrive.
“It’s going to be good,” said Vinny.
