Shaquille O'Neal's Wife Gives Long-Awaited Update on Their Son Shareef's Health

Shaunie O’Neal finally updated fans on her son Shareef's health, after his heart surgery in December 2018.

Fans of Shaquille O'Neal's talented son, Shareef, have been anxiously waiting for the outcome of the young basketball player's heart surgery.

For the first time since the 18-year-old's December 13, 2018 heart surgery, his mother, Shaunie O'Neal has opened up about her son's health.

"CLEARED with NO LIMITATIONS! We are so thankful and appreciative for all of your support, prayers and love through this long process. There has been a tremendous weight lifted off of me today, and I can’t stop Thanking God!"

PROMISING YOUNG PLAYER HAD HEART PROBLEMS

Shareef, who was rated as a top-30 prospect in the recruiting class of 2018, was forced to miss an entire season after his heart condition was diagnosed.

Shaunie posted a clip of her son undergoing medical tests and revealed that he has been cleared with no limitations.

Shaunie has appealed to athletes to undergo more rigorous screening in order to prevent the risk of sudden death due to unsuspected cardiovascular disease.

SHAREEF'S HEART CONDITION

Shareef's doctors diagnosed his heart condition after he complained about feeling "funny" during the summer practices. He was equipped with a monitor that helped doctors pinpoint the problem which was vaguely referred to as "electrical."

SHAREEF WILL BE PLAYING AGAIN SOON

Shaunie was happy to announce that Shareef has been cleared to play, and will be back on the courts soon. The young athlete has posted photographs of himself, showing the scar of open-heart surgery and promising to get back into shape.

SHAUNIE ALERTS TO DANGER TO YOUNG ATHLETES

Sadly, every year many young athletes die of cardiac arrest. Shaunie has appealed to athletes to undergo more rigorous screening in order to prevent the risk of sudden death due to unsuspected cardiovascular disease.

Like Shareef's, many heart conditions can be solved without ending their careers, and potentially saving their lives.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL PROMOTES HEALTH AWARENESS

Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal is using his fame and influence to raise awareness in the Black community with regards to cardiac disease.

The NBA Hall of Famer became painfully aware of the silent problem of undiagnosed heart disease when his 18-year-.old son Shareef had to undergo open heart surgery.

He has launched a project “Shaquille Gets Real about Heart Failure” focused on educating families about the importance of the early detection of heart conditions.

According to statistics, African-Americans are twenty times more likely to develop heart failure than other ethnic groups before the age of 50.