Photo Courtesy of Shaquille O'Neal / Twitter
Big man Shaquille O’Neal worried fans after tweeting a photo of him in the hospital on Sunday.
“I’m always watching @TurnerSportsEJ and @Candace_Parker miss y’all,” he wrote in the tweet.
https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1637593805934284806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener
The photo showed Shaq in a purple gown with a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) on one arm and an IV on the other.
Supporters rushed to the comments, telling him to get well and asking what happened.
“Get well soon, big fella!! Prayers going up now,” Greg Warmoth, WFTV Orlando news anchor, wrote.
https://twitter.com/gwarmothwftv/status/1637599093223505920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener
“Hope you ok, Big Man,” musician Matthew Mayer wrote.
https://twitter.com/mayersolopiano/status/1637594261750177792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener
“Whaaaattt?!?! Hope you’re alright big man…Favorite basketball player ever!!! Heal up good in the name of Jesus,” a Twitter user commented.
https://twitter.com/RollTide_Colts/status/1637598419739967488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener
“What the hell happen to Shaq?” another user wrote.
https://twitter.com/Justinrichsmith/status/1637593926281359362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener
Fortunately, concerned fans can stop worrying and breathe a sigh of relief because Shaq underwent a hip replacement procedure.
He announced on The Big Podcast, which he co-hosts with Spice Adams and Nischelle Turner, that he would have hip replacement surgery on March 15.
During a conversation about weight loss, Shaq encouraged Spice to join him on a weight loss challenge.
“I took about three weeks off, and I’m going to start working out tomorrow before my little surgery, and then after the surgery, I’m going in,” he said.
Spice had a confused expression and asked, “surgery?”
Nischelle asked, “You are getting hip replacement, correct?”
Shaq confirmed. According to the National Health Service site, people would typically be hospitalized for three to five days after a hip replacement surgery, depending on the patient.