Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesGreg Olsen, a long-time tight end for the Carolina Panthers, said that his son TJ continues to make progress after he had surgery to have a heart transplant in June.He's doing well. He has made an incredible recovery. Olsen said that he feels good and spoke to Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, on Monday. He's been back almost three weeks. He is starting to regain his strength and to be more active. It's been quite an adventure.Olsen, who played for the Chicago Bears as well as the Seattle Seahawks over a 14-year period before retiring in January, has kept TJ informed of the progress throughout. A message from his 8 year old son was included in that update.TJ was born with an congenital heart defect. He required four surgeries including three open-heart surgeries before a donor heart was found.Fowler was informed by Olsen that he and his wife Kara decided to share information about TJ's life in order to help other families going through difficult times."From the moment TJ was born, we have always been open to sharing our struggles. It's important that people hear from you even if you are at the top of your game. It's a fact that many people go through difficult times. Sometimes people believe they are the only ones experiencing tough times.TJ's story has inspired us to connect with many other stories of hope, heartache and love across the country. We do this because we want to show people that they are not the only ones out there. Many people are in trouble. There are many people who are struggling. It's possible to get through it. TJ is an excellent example.The Olsen family teamed with Levine Children's Hospital in North Carolina and the Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute to create The HEARTest yard, a charity effort to support families with children with congenital heart diseases.Olsen informed Fowler that the family does not know anything about the donor. They'll let TJ make the decision on when and if he would like to reach out through the United Network of Organ Sharing to send a thank you message.
