Greg Olsen's 8-year-old son TJ shares update after heart transplant surgery
TJ Olsen, the 8-year-old son of former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, gave fans an uplifting update after undergoing a heart transplant.
Olsen shared a Twitter video of TJ thanking fans for prayers and sending love to them on Monday, days after the surgery.
"Hey everybody," TJ said. "Thank you for thinking of me. Thank you for praying with me."
Someone has an update pic.twitter.com/L1Zk2AgHpd
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) June 7, 2021
Olsen said on Friday morning a donor was found for his son to receive a heart transplant. He underwent surgery early that afternoon and was sedated for a few days.
"His road to recovery has begun," Olsen wrote on Twitter.
We also want to ask that everyone takes a second to pray for our donor family. Their selflessness during a tragic time gave our boy a chance at life. We don’t know who they are, but we will forever be grateful for everyday we get to have with Tj
❤️ Olsen Family— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) June 4, 2021
Olsen shared need for heart donor in May
Olsen, who retired in January and took a broadcasting job with FOX Sports, revealed the need for a heart donor a few weeks ago. He said TJ has had heart problems since birth and had already undergone three open-heart surgeries.
He had lived with a modified heart for his first eight years, but that heart "is reaching its end," Olsen wrote on May 24.
TJ and twin sister, Talbot, were born in 2012. Olsen and his wife, Kara, were told early in the pregnancy he would be born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He's been treated at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the family has spent years giving back to the hospital.
Olsen spent nearly his entire career with the Panthers. He was with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2020 NFL season and is expected to work as a color analyst with Fox in 2021.
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