NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal is trying to ease the pain of grief for a family in Atlanta. Disturbing news recently made the rounds about the death of Jada West, a 12-year-old girl who lost consciousness after a fight. The details about the incident are disturbing. However, what touched Shaq more than anything was the shared feelings of being a parent.

As a father, he couldn’t imagine the pain of burying your own child. The Big Diesel partnered with Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett and Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds to ensure the West family finds some relief during these difficult times. Shaquille O’Neal stepped in to help by offering to pay the costs of Jada West’s funeral.

“This story touched my heart the moment I saw it in the media. As a father, my heart goes out to Jada’s family. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and if there is anything I can do to ease even a small part of that burden, then it is the right thing to do,” O’Neal said about his decision.

The story has highlighted the need for educational institutions to spread better awareness around bullying and physical violence. According to the family, Jada West reported multiple incidents of bullying at her school. The 12-year-old was taken to the hospital after the fight not before a bystander performed CPR. After a few days, she sadly succumbed to her injuries, which were reported as brain injuries. West fell on her head during the fight on the bus.

The time Shaquille O’Neal feared losing his son

Shaquille O’Neal loved to play basketball. However, being a father really changed him. He wasn’t always available for his children, but he is a role model for them. Shaq pours everything into his kids. In 2018, he faced the biggest test as a father. Shareef O’Neal needed to have open-heart surgery.

On the front, Shaquille O’Neal played it off. He was at the hospital, making his son feel loved and encouraging him to stay strong. However, on their Netflix series, the savvy businessman revealed the true emotions swirling in his mind.

“I’ve never talked about it before but it was the most terrifying thing in my life because what if my baby don’t wake up?” said Shaq.

Open heart surgery, probably the most daunting words a parent could hear about their children. Well, at that time, there was uncertainty regarding Shareef O’Neal. Fortunately, he managed to make a full recovery, even stepping back on the basketball floor. However, for Shaquille O’Neal, all that’s important even now is his son’s health.

He doesn’t mind Shareef O’Neal not having a basketball legacy. Shaq wants to see him and his children lead a healthy, comfortable life. It’s the reason he works as hard as he does. And Shaq, having gone through such an experience, has shaped his generous character. It’s amazing what the Hall of Famer is doing for Jada West and her family. It won’t numb the pain, but it eliminates a burden the family couldn’t imagine bearing.