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Atrium to open children’s heart center with help from Greg Olsen

CHARLOTTE — Atrium Health will open a new outpatient clinic near Levine Children’s Hospital for children with heart conditions.

The nearly 25,000-square-foot HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center has 25 patient rooms, a fetal echocardiography lab, consultation rooms and a separate space for adults with congenital heart disease. It will provide streamlined cardiac care for patients of all ages.

[‘It gives us a lot of purpose’: Olsen family opens up about HEARTest Yard initiative]

Seattle Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen and his wife, Kara, gave a $2.5 million investment for the clinic through Olsen’s foundation. Olsen used to play football with the Carolina Panthers. The Olsens and Levine Children’s established the HEARTest Yard initiative in 2012, offering support for families and patients with congenital heart disease. The Olsens’ son, T.J., was born with a congenital heart defect.

“It really puts an exclamation point on what’s been an incredible journey,” Greg Olsen said. “This has been a long time coming. This has been a program and a project that’s been in the makings for years.”

Read more and check out photos here.

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