In his fourteen years in the NFL, Greg Olsen probably did not have as much pressure as a player, as he has as a father, as his son TJ, who is just eight years of age, is revealed to be suffering from a serious and rare heart complication.
After Greg Olsen and his wife Kara welcomed their first son Tate in June 2011, twins Talbot and Trent Jerry aka TJ were born in October the next year. Unfortunately, as Olsen himself revealed, TJ was born with “hypoplastic left heart syndrome”, a rare congenital heart condition.
TJ may undergo heart transplant, says Greg Olsen
Although TJ has already undergone three open heart surgeries and has been surviving on a modified heart, Olsen laments that recent times have been very difficult for the family as they fear that TJ’s modified heart is also reaching its end and they may have to resort to a heart transplant surgery.
In a recent post shared by Greg on his Instagram, the former tight end expressed his gratitude towards Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina where TJ is currently being treated.
“We are so thankful for the incredible support we have received over the years. We have received worldclass care at Levine Children’s Hospital and are so appreciative of their amazing team,” Olsen’s post read, “we don’t know how long we will be within these hospital walls. We do know that we are in full control of our attitudes and our outlook.”
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Point to be noted, the Olsen couple has been in touch up with the Levine Children’s Hospital for years, as back in 2019 Greg and Kara donated $2.5 million to the hospital to help in setting up a pediatric cardiovascular and congenital heart outpatient clinic.
“TJ has been 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 36 year old added.
A 2007 first round draft pick out of Miami, Olsen made his NFL debut with Chicago Bears, where he stayed until 2010 before switching sides with the Panthers. He spent a total of nine seasons in Carolina, during when he became a three time Pro Bowler and a second team All Pro twice. After the Panthers released him in February last year, Olsen joined Seattle Seahawks and was released after the conclusion of the season in March.
