It was a cool autumn morning in downtown Henderson, North Carolina when Big Shaq found himself sitting in a crowded hospital waiting room. A 42-year-old Black man, known for his calm demeanor and towering presence, Shaq had never been fond of hospitals. There was something about the sterile smell of antiseptic and the constant beeping of machines that made his stomach churn. But today was different. He wasn’t here for himself. He was here for Jada, his girlfriend, who had been feeling unwell for a few weeks.
Jada was a kind-hearted woman who always smiled, even when life wasn’t easy. She had been dealing with some health issues for a while, and today they were finally going to get answers. As they waited, Shaq could sense the anxiety in Jada. She fidgeted with the hem of her jacket and glanced nervously at the clock, which read 9:50 a.m. They had an appointment with Dr. Emma Fitzgerald, a specialist in internal medicine.
Shaq squeezed Jada’s hand gently, offering a reassuring smile. “We’ll get through this, babe. Everything will be okay.” Jada smiled weakly back, but the worry in her eyes was still evident.
After what felt like an eternity, the receptionist finally called their names.
“Shaquille Johnson and Jada Williams.”
They stood up and made their way to the examination room where a nurse greeted them with a polite nod. “Dr. Fitzgerald will be with you shortly,” she said as she left the room. Big Shaq sat down, pulling out his phone to distract himself. He wasn’t the type to get worked up over things, but the longer they sat there, the more uncomfortable he felt. His intuition told him something wasn’t quite right. Maybe it was the way the staff had looked at them when they walked in, as if they didn’t quite belong, or maybe it was just his mind running wild. Either way, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
It wasn’t long before the door opened, and Dr. Emma Fitzgerald stepped inside. She was a short, overweight woman with thin bleach-blonde hair that looked like it hadn’t seen a brush in days. Her pale skin contrasted sharply against her dark blue scrubs, and her large, round face showed no hint of a smile.
“Good morning,” Dr. Fitzgerald said, her voice cold and businesslike. “I’m Dr. Fitzgerald. What seems to be the problem today?”
Big Shaq stood up and extended his hand. “Good morning, Doc. My girlfriend Jada has been feeling unwell lately. She’s been having stomach issues and fatigue, and we were hoping you could help figure out what’s going on.”
Dr. Fitzgerald barely acknowledged his outstretched hand, her eyes flicking between Big Shaq and Jada before she looked at her clipboard. “I see,” she muttered. “And how long has she been feeling this way?”
Jada spoke up, her voice shaky. “About three weeks now, Doctor. I’ve had trouble eating and I’ve been really tired all the time. I thought maybe it was just stress, but it’s been getting worse.”
Dr. Fitzgerald glanced at Jada as if she were a puzzle to be solved, then quickly turned her attention to Big Shaq. “You,” she said bluntly, her eyes hardening, “are you sure you’re the right person to be here with her? You don’t exactly look like someone who could offer much help. Maybe you should wait outside.”
Big Shaq was taken aback by the harshness of her tone. It wasn’t the first time he’d experienced discrimination, but this was different. The casual, dismissive way she spoke to him hit him like a slap in the face. He opened his mouth to respond, but Jada put a hand on his arm, shaking her head. She was already shaking with embarrassment, her face flushed.
“I’ll wait outside,” Big Shaq said, his voice calm but firm, trying to keep his temper in check. He gave Jada one last reassuring look before stepping out into the hallway. The noise from the waiting room seemed distant, almost muffled as he leaned against the cold wall, crossing his arms, trying to keep his mind steady. The last thing he wanted was to get worked up over something as trivial as a doctor’s attitude, but the way Dr. Fitzgerald had treated him left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to his best friend, Marcus.
This doctor’s vibe is off. I’m just trying to stay cool for Jada.
The reply came instantly.
You know I got your back, man. Stay calm. We’ll talk about it later.
Big Shaq leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn’t just the way Dr. Fitzgerald had dismissed him—it was the fact that Jada was already feeling vulnerable. She had been through so much in the past year, and now this. The thought of her feeling embarrassed in front of a doctor who didn’t even try to understand her made his blood boil.
A few minutes later, the door to the examination room opened, and Jada stepped out, her eyes downcast. She looked exhausted, defeated even. Big Shaq stood up immediately, his heart sinking at the sight of her.
“Jada,” he asked softly, walking toward her.
Her lips trembled as she met his gaze. “She… she said there’s nothing wrong with me. That it’s all in my head.” Jada’s voice shook. “She wouldn’t even listen to me, Shaq.”
Big Shaq’s jaw tightened, anger rising inside him. “What do you mean, she didn’t do any tests?”
Jada shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “No. She barely even looked at me. She just asked me a few questions, and then she said I was being dramatic. She told me to relax and not worry about it.”
The pain in Jada’s voice sent a wave of fury through Big Shaq. This wasn’t just about the slap; it was about how Dr. Fitzgerald had dismissed her symptoms, how she had treated her like she wasn’t worth her time.
Big Shaq clenched his fists, his blood boiling. “This isn’t over. We’re not leaving until we get answers. Let’s go speak to her again.”
Jada hesitated, pulling away slightly. “I don’t know, Shaq. I’m fine. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m just overreacting.”
“No,” Big Shaq said firmly. “You’re not overreacting. And if she can’t see that, then we’ll find someone who does. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be treated with respect.”
Jada hesitated, then nodded. She knew Big Shaq would never let anything slide when it came to protecting her, and right now, she needed that.
Together, they walked back to the receptionist’s desk, where a young woman was typing into the computer. Big Shaq cleared his throat, making the receptionist look up.
“We’d like to speak with Dr. Fitzgerald again,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
The receptionist hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone. “Let me check if she’s available,” she said, dialing a number.
A few minutes later, Dr. Fitzgerald appeared in the hallway, her expression stern as she spotted Big Shaq and Jada standing there.
“What is it now?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Big Shaq didn’t waste any time. “We need to talk,” he said, his voice steady but wavering. “You didn’t listen to Jada earlier. You dismissed her concerns and treated her like she was crazy. We’re not leaving until we get a proper evaluation.”
Dr. Fitzgerald’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a tight frown. “I already told you there’s nothing wrong with her. You’re wasting both of our time.”
Big Shaq took a deep breath, his fists clenching at his sides. He had been patient, but this was too far. “I don’t care what you said before. You’ve got a responsibility as a doctor to listen to your patients. You don’t get to decide what’s wrong with someone just by looking at them or assuming things based on how they look.”
Dr. Fitzgerald scoffed. “You think I’m going to listen to you just because you’re some… some big guy? Doesn’t mean you know anything about medicine. I’ve been practicing for years. Maybe you should just leave and let me do my job.”
That was the final straw.
Big Shaq’s voice dropped to a dangerous calm. “You know what? I’m not going anywhere. But you will. I’m filing a complaint. If you don’t take Jada seriously, I’ll make sure this goes further. We’ll have a lawyer involved. You can’t treat people like this and get away with it.”
Dr. Fitzgerald stood there, stunned by the confrontation. Big Shaq wasn’t backing down. Jada looked at him, her eyes widening as she realized the gravity of the situation.
“Shaq, we don’t have to go that far. We can just leave,” she said quietly.
“No,” Big Shaq said firmly. “We’re going to stand up for you, Jada, and for anyone else who’s been treated this way. It’s not right.”
Jada hesitated, then nodded. She knew he was right. Together, they were going to make sure that Dr. Fitzgerald’s actions didn’t go unnoticed. They walked out of the hospital, their resolve stronger than ever.
The battle was just beginning, but Big Shaq and Jada knew that with each step, they were making a difference—not just for themselves, but for everyone who had ever been mistreated in a medical setting.
NBA legend Shaq sheds two and a half STONE in dramatic body transformation as he bids to become ‘sex symbol’
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has revealed the secrets behind his dramatic body transformation… bidding to become a “sex symbol”.
The retired basketball star – nicknamed Shaq – was weighing over gigantic 28st 5lb.
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Shaquille O’Neal was weighing 28st 5lb at one point
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The NBA legend revealed his body transformation
But on an episode of Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, the American revealed he is now 26 stone.
A picture of Shaq’s ripped physique went viral and he used fellow court legend Charles Barkley as inspiration to get in shape.
He said: “I didn’t want my stomach to be over the belt anymore. So I was just like, ‘Let me go ahead and get slim.’
“After that [picture] went viral, now I’ve got to live up to it.
“I was 401 pounds. Now I’m 365. I’m trying to take it back to 345.
“I want to have muscles everywhere, and I want to do an underwear ad with my sons [for] Fruit of the Loom, baby.”
Shaq added that he “wants to become a sex symbol.”
The sportsman went through a time period in 2020 following the passing of his sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex and team-mate Kobe Bryant.
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But he turned it around with a strict exercise routine and diet.
Shaq told Men’s Health magazine in 2021: “My sister passed away, and then Kobe, it was a really bad year and I didn’t want to do anything, I could only eat and watch Netflix.
“I saw an old man in his 70s with muscles all over the place and I started to eat better, I only ate sandwiches, for lunch, for dinner and for a snack, and then everything hit me last year and I couldn’t sleep, I would get up and make myself a sandwich.
“I realised I couldn’t go on like this, I took away the bread, the chocolate and the cakes.”
He added: “Now I only eat fruits, protein shakes, salads, fish, chicken, asparagus and other vegetables, all in very small portions.
“I have started to see things like a six-pack, which I haven’t had since I was in Miami in 2006.
“I do 20 minutes of cardio and then a little bit of chest, biceps, triceps, abs and back, which is about an hour a day in total.”
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Shaquille O’Neal on Logan Paul’s podcast
