Sports

Greg Olsen's Unborn Son Diagnosed With Heart Defect

Tight end's son T.J. will face major surgery only days after being born, according to report.

Former Wayne Hills football star Greg Olsen's unborn son has been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart defect, ESPN.com reported.

Olsen's wife Kara is pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. The boy, whom the Olsen's will name T.J., was diagnosed with the defect after it was discovered during a routine ultrasound. The couple have a 1-year-old son Tate.

"It was a pretty grim diagnosis," Kara said. 

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ESPN interviewed the Olsens about the diagnosis. The couple talked about how they've coped with the diagnosis and what lies ahead for them and their unborn son in brief video online.

"It was a helpless, empty feeling," Olsen said. 

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In what will be the first of three surgeries, T.J. will be operated on between two and seven days after he is born.

Olsen was a standout player for his father Chris, an eight-time state group champion, while at Hills.

Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2007, Olsen was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2011. 

He founded Receptions For Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation and the Kicks for a Cure Kickball Tournament, the world’s largest charity kickball tournament. Both raise money for cancer research. His mother Sue is a breast cancer survivor. 

Olsen's younger brother Kevin, regarded as one of the top high school prospects in the country, plays quarterback for Hills. Kevin, a senior, has verbally committed to play for The University of Miami, Greg's alma mater, in the fall.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.


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