CHARLOTTE — Former Carolina Panther Greg Olsen shared a post on Twitter Wednesday saying his family “couldn’t be more thankful” after his 8-year-old son, TJ, reached an incredible milestone in his journey to recovery following heart transplant surgery.
The post, which has gotten more than 33,000 likes, included a video of TJ ringing a bell -- a moment Olsen said his son has looked forward to since he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
“Today was that day! We are finally whole again and we couldn’t be more thankful!” Olsen tweeted.
Since the day TJ was admitted into the ICU we talked about the day we could “ring the bell”.
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) June 16, 2021
Today was that day! We are finally whole again and we couldn’t be more thankful!
Thank you all for the amazing support and prayers!#playfortj pic.twitter.com/8bi5Tmh1Of
After ringing the bell, TJ was met with applause, tons of pictures and words of encouragement.
TJ was born with a congenital heart defect that required four surgeries, including three open-heart procedures and the installation of a pacemaker.
After a successful heart transplant, today TJ went home! TJ was also the second patient to beat our brand new @Panthers Keep Pounding drum, reserved for all our patients who have stayed at our hospital and are on their way home! Congratulations TJ, we’re so proud of you! 💙 pic.twitter.com/2TaRAEjObQ
— Levine Children’s (@LevineChildrens) June 16, 2021
Last month, Olsen shared in an Instagram post that his son’s heart was “reaching its end” and it “ultimately could lead to a transplant.”
On June 4, Olsen announced that a donor match for TJ had been found. The transplant surgery was performed at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.
(WATCH: Olsen family opens up about HEARTest Yard initiative)
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