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PRAY: Former NFL Player Greg Olsen Says 8-Year-Old Son May Need Heart Transplant

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear
AP Photo/Stephen Brashear
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By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

May 25, 2021

Eight-year-old TJ’s heart “is reaching its end,” said his father, former NFL player turned sports analyst Greg Olsen.

In a series of tweets posted Monday, the retired Carolina Panthers tight end revealed his son — who has undergone four surgeries after being born in 2012 with a congenital heart defect — is struggling.

Olsen said he and his family are “working through the process to determine our next steps, which ultimately could lead to a heart transplant.”

This past week has been exceptionally challenging for our family. As many of you know, our son TJ has faced serious heart issues since birth. TJ has already undergone 3 open heart surgeries and has survived with a modified heart for his first 8 years of life.

— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) May 24, 2021

We are so thankful for the incredible support we have received over the years. We have received world class care at Levine Children’s Hospital and we are so appreciative of their amazing team.

— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) May 24, 2021

Thanks for everyone’s prayers.

The Olsen Family#halveaheart#playforTJ

— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) May 24, 2021

In his tweets, Olsen thanked his supporters for their prayers, describing his young son as “a fighter since birth.”

“We are going to get through this as a family and be better off as a result of this experience,” the athlete tweeted.

Despite his myriad health setbacks, TJ has lived a relatively normal life. He served as a bat boy for his older brother Tate’s Little League team, which Olsen coached, according to ESPN.

“I learned that the simplest things made me the happiest,” Olsen said of coaching the team. “On a Friday night, when a lot of people wanted to do a million different things, I was taking the boys to practice, then meeting my wife and daughter and the other families for pizza down the street, sitting there and hanging out with the other families and my kids and wife.”

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“We didn’t need to do anything fancy or go on fancy trips,” he added. “It was really a unique experience. I really enjoyed it.”

People all across social media sent messages of support to the Olsens.

The Rev. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, took to Twitter to encourage his followers to pray for Olsen and TJ.

Pray for former Carolina @Panthers tight end @GregOlsen88’s 8-year-old son, TJ, and their family. https://t.co/hhK6PYR8m8

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) May 25, 2021

Others shared their support, too.

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Greg and all the best to TJ!! https://t.co/kk7bjJBbm2

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) May 24, 2021

Praying very hard for TJ and your entire family. https://t.co/leBAwT3wO5

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) May 24, 2021

Prayers with the Olsen family. Greg’s a good man, and going through what he and his wife have is unimaginable. https://t.co/mNg6aCgZcY

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 24, 2021

Love you and the family bruh. Will keep you in prayer.

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) May 24, 2021

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

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