Greg Olsen’s son TJ rings bell after receiving coronary heart transplant: ‘We’re lastly entire once more’

Eight years after being born with hypoplastic left coronary heart syndrome, TJ Olsen is now wanting in the direction of a cheerful future and a wholesome coronary heart. The son of former NFL tight finish Greg Olsen, who performed for the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks, not too long ago obtained a coronary heart transplant, and was in a position to attain a milestone that he and his dad and mom have lengthy seemed ahead to.

On Wednesday, Greg Olsen shared a video of TJ ringing the bell on the Intensive Care Unit at Levine Youngsters’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. TJ, who had been residing with a congenital coronary heart defect, not too long ago obtained a profitable coronary heart transplant after the Olsen household shared in late Might that he would wish one.

“We’re lastly entire once more and we could not be extra grateful!”, wrote Greg Olsen on Twitter. “Thanks all for the wonderful assist and prayers!”

After Greg Olsen shared the information that his son wanted a coronary heart transplant on Might 24, a donor match was recognized and TJ Olsen was admitted for a coronary heart transplant on June 4, which he has since been recovering from.

Whereas the Olsen household has been in a position to share their pleasure that their son has obtained a brand new coronary heart, there’s a somber underside to an in any other case joyful story. In sharing information about his son’s transplant and restoration, Olsen has made some extent to ask for prayers and sympathies for the donor household that misplaced their very own little one.

“Their selflessness throughout a tragic time gave our boy an opportunity at life,” wrote Olsen. “We do not know who they’re, however we are going to perpetually be glad about day by day we get to have with TJ.”

To be able to assist different youngsters like TJ and their households, Greg Olsen and his spouse Kara established The HEARTest Yard initiative, which affords a wide range of assist and providers to households with youngsters born with congenital coronary heart illness without charge to them. Final December, Atrium Well being unveiled The HEARTest Yard Congenital Coronary heart Heart at Levine Youngsters’s Hospital in Charlotte, a next-generation pediatric cardiovascular and congenital coronary heart outpatient clinic.