5 years after undergoing open heart surgery, Orlando Magic’s Jeff Green say’s God took care of him. It was December of 2011 when he was red-flagged by doctors during a routine physical after signing a one-year, $9 million contract with the Boston Celtics. Green was 25 at the time he was told that there was danger of the aneurysm near his heart rupturing – something that would result in almost immediate death. Green had the surgery, and the aneurysm was repaired.
“After the surgery, the doctors told me that the tissue (around the heart) had started to tear a little bit. So it was great timing and God took care of me,’’ said Green, still very much in amazement five years later.
Green says he is blessed to still be able to play in the NBA, and do something that he loves.
“With what I’ve gone through, that’s why I try to not let a lot of stuff stress me out,’’ said Green, who has been traded three times in his nine-year NBA career and has played for five NBA franchises. “I understand what a blessing it is to play this game, knowing the circumstances that I had to go through. A lot of us take the game for granted, but that’s not the case for me. I’m truly humbled by the game and when I say it, I mean it. I’m very blessed to still be able to put on this NBA uniform and do something that I love. How many ever years that I’ve got left, I’ll cherish every bit of it.’’
Amen
