CHARLOTTE — Former Carolina Panthers star tight end Greg Olsen is asking for the community’s thoughts and prayers after sharing painful news about his son’s medical condition on Twitter Monday afternoon.
TJ Olsen needs a new heart.
Those who have followed Olsen’s career are familiar with TJ’s story. TJ, 8, was born in 2012 with a congenital heart defect that required four surgeries, including three open heart procedures and the installation of a pacemaker.
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The retired tight end announced in a series of tweets that his son has survived with a modified heart for his first 8 years of life, but that his heart was “reaching its end” and it “ultimately could lead to a transplant.”
“This past week has been exceptionally challenging for our family,” Olsen tweeted.
Olsen said his family is working through the process to determine their next steps, which could ultimately lead to a heart transplant.
“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,” he said.
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TJ has been receiving care at the Levine Children’s Hospital. Olsen said the care from the staff has been incredible and he’s optimistic about his son’s future.
“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,” Olsen tweeted.
Olsen and his wife, Kara, established the HEARTest Yard initiative shortly after the birth of TJ and his twin sister, Talbot, to raise money for less fortunate families going through crises like theirs.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection has donated millions to the foundation and to the construction of a 25,000-square-foot facility at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte known as the “HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center.” TJ is in the care of doctors at the facility.
ESPN contributed to this article.
(WATCH: Olsen family opens up about HEARTest Yard initiative)
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