Former Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen has been tending to a personal crisis of late with his eight-year-old son TJ in desperate need of a heart transplant. But good news came Thursday night when a donor match was found for TJ, allowing him to undergo his much-needed operation and hopefully begin his road to recovery.
According to ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton, TJ was born with a congenital heart defect that required four surgeries including the installation of a pacemaker. Olsen revealed his son’s grave condition in a series of tweets last week, noting that TJ’s failing heart was “reaching its end.” TJ’s heart transplant is being performed Friday afternoon at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.
A three-time Pro Bowler with Carolina (where he spent nine of his 14 NFL seasons), Olsen announced his retirement in January and was promptly hired by Fox Sports, where he will serve as a color commentator for games beginning next season. The University of Miami alum appeared in 14 games for Seattle this past season, contributing 24 catches for 239 yards and a single touchdown. Olsen and his wife Kara have three children together including TJ (short for Trent Jerry), his twin sister Talbot and their eldest son, Tate, born in 2011.
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