Shaq Helps Disabled Woman With Groceries, Next Day He Receives New That Changes His Life

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It was a sunny afternoon in downtown Los Angeles when Shaquille O’Neal, the legendary NBA star known as Shaq, pulled into a Whole Foods parking lot. At 7’1”, Shaq’s larger-than-life presence was impossible to miss as he stepped out of his sleek Mercedes, drawing curious whispers and admiring glances from passersby. He adjusted his tailored suit jacket and glanced at his phone—three missed calls from his business manager and a text about another investment opportunity. At 51, Shaq had built an empire beyond basketball, yet he felt a nagging need to make a deeper impact.

As he approached the store, Shaq’s attention was drawn to a scene near the entrance: an elderly woman in a wheelchair struggling to manage several grocery bags. Her silver hair was neatly pinned back, and she carried herself with dignity despite her struggles. Without hesitation, Shaq walked over, his deep voice calling out warmly, “Ma’am, let the Diesel help you with those bags.”

The woman, Margaret Wheeler, looked up in astonishment. “Oh my goodness, you’re Shaquille O’Neal! My late husband and I used to watch all your games. But please, I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Trouble? No way,” Shaq replied with his signature grin, effortlessly gathering the bags. He offered to push her wheelchair and asked where she lived. Margaret gestured down the street to a senior apartment complex. She explained that her daughter, who usually helped her, was sick that day. Shaq assured her, “Then the Sha Express is at your service.”

As they walked, Margaret shared her story. She had been a physical education teacher for 30 years, inspiring kids to love sports. A car accident had left her wheelchair-bound five years ago, but she refused to let it define her. She spoke proudly of her late husband, Harry, and how they had cheered for Shaq’s games from their living room.

The two chatted about basketball, family, and life. Shaq, with his playful humor, kept her laughing as they strolled down the sidewalk. What neither of them noticed was the small crowd forming at a distance, capturing the moment on their phones.

When they reached Margaret’s modest apartment, she insisted on offering him money for his help. Shaq shook his head, smiling. “My mama would kill me if I took money for helping someone in need.” Instead, he helped put away her groceries, ensuring everything was within her reach.

Before he left, Margaret mentioned her daughter’s small medical supply company, Wheeler Medical Supplies. She handed him a catalog, explaining how they aimed to create affordable, user-friendly equipment. “It’s tough competing with the big corporations,” she said, “but my daughter is brilliant. She designs much of the equipment herself.”

Shaq flipped through the catalog, intrigued by the thoughtful designs. It struck a chord with him, reminding him of his sister’s struggles with medical equipment after her accident.

The next morning, Shaq’s phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. On the other end was Sarah Wheeler, Margaret’s daughter. “Mr. O’Neal,” she began, “thank you for helping my mother yesterday. She hasn’t stopped talking about you. I also saw the videos of your kindness—it reminded me of something she mentioned. You’re considering investing in medical supply companies?”

Shaq confirmed, and Sarah quickly pitched her company. She explained how they focused on innovative designs and affordability, often refusing buyout offers from larger corporations to maintain their values. Shaq agreed to visit their office.

The next day, Shaq walked into Wheeler Medical Supplies and was immediately impressed. The showroom was warm and welcoming, unlike the sterile environments of most medical supply stores. It featured accessible layouts, natural light, and real-world testing areas for equipment.

Sarah gave him a tour, showing him their patents, including a lightweight adjustable wheelchair designed for evolving user needs. “We’re not just about profits,” she said passionately. “We’re about dignity and independence for our customers.”

Shaq asked thoughtful questions, taking in every detail. By the end of the visit, he was convinced this was the kind of investment he had been seeking—one that combined business with meaningful impact. “I’m in,” he said, “but on one condition.”

“What’s that?” Sarah asked, her eyes filled with hope.

“We create a program to provide free or reduced-cost equipment for families in need,” Shaq replied, “and we call it the Margaret Wheeler Initiative.”

Margaret, who had arrived at the office by then, beamed with pride. “I told Sarah you were different,” she said.

Within months, Wheeler Medical Supplies expanded nationwide, thanks to Shaq’s investment and expertise. The Margaret Wheeler Initiative helped thousands of families access quality medical equipment they couldn’t otherwise afford. Shaq used his celebrity status to raise awareness about accessibility issues, bringing attention to the importance of affordable medical supplies.

The success of Wheeler Medical Supplies sparked change across the industry, inspiring other companies to adopt similar programs. What began as a simple act of kindness in a parking lot became a movement that transformed lives and reshaped an industry.

For Shaq, the experience reinforced a lesson from his childhood: true strength isn’t just about personal success but about using your gifts to uplift others. Every time he visited Los Angeles, he made a point to personally deliver groceries to Margaret, often bringing fellow NBA stars along to help.

The “Sha Express,” as Margaret fondly called it, became a symbol of hope and community. Through his actions, Shaq proved that small moments of kindness can create ripple effects far beyond what anyone might imagine, changing not just individual lives but entire communities.

SEE MORE: Shaquille O’Neal Explains How He Maintains All of His Many ‘Superstar’ Friendships (Exclusive)

“The Diesel knows everybody,” O’Neal quips while discussing his upcoming Super Bowl party in New Orleans

Simone Biles, Taylor Swift and Jimmy Kimmel pose with Shaquille O’Neal on separate occasions. Photo:

Simone Biles/X; Shaquille O’Neal/Instagram; Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty

Celebrities, kids, fans, random people in the toy store — they’ve all got a friend in Shaquille O’Neal.

As O’Neal, 52, gears up for his annual Shaq’s Fun House party during Super Bowl weekend, the retired basketball star — who performs under the name DJ Diesel — tells PEOPLE how he maintains his friendships, particularly his many celebrity friendships.

“The Diesel knows everybody,” says O’Neal, who will perform at his Super Bowl party with by DJ Irie, John Summit and Ludacris, a longtime friend of O’Neal’s, on Friday, Feb. 7 in New Orleans, not far from where O’Neal broke out as a college basketball star at LSU.

The former Laker credits “respect and just being nice” for his extensive social network. “It’s all about honor and respect, so every person I come in contact with, superstar or not, I just try to show as much respect as possible,” says O’Neal.

Shaquille O’Neal, Taylor Swift and Jamie Salter.Shaquille O’Neal/Instagram

“I’ve been friends with Ludacris for over 30 years,” he shares of the rap icon. “Ludacris used to come by my house every time he was in LA unannounced, just to get some of my chef’s cake,” O’Neal tells PEOPLE.

“And John Summit is a good friend of mine and said he’d love to be involved.”

Shaq’s Fun House.Shaq’s Fun House

O’Neal is longtime friends with this year’s halftime performer, Kendrick Lamar, too. “I know Kendrick personally, so I know he’s going to put on a fabulous show.”

O’Neal says he first met Lamar when they “shot a commercial for soap” that was “really funny.”

“I’m not going to tell you what happened in the commercial, but it was an accident and it was so good that we just kept it,” he says of the spot, which actually was not promoting soap, but a 2016 commercial for American Express. It was shot in a soap store, however, so O’Neal wasn’t far off.

And although Lamar’s selection as the halftime performer has been somewhat controversial amid his ongoing feud with Drake — and fans of Lil Wayne arguing that he should perform at the game as it takes place in his hometown — O’Neal trusts that the right choice was made.

“Whoever the halftime performer is, it’s somebody that’s well respected and well liked,” he remarks.

But before the “Not Like Us” rapper lights up the stage at Caesar’s Superdome on Sunday, Feb. 9, O’Neal is excited to kick things off in New Orleans with Shaq’s Fun House.

“Man, I was happy when the Super Bowl was headed to the Big Easy. My party — no doubt, no doubt in my mind — will be the No. 1 party,” he says of the all-inclusive event. “Leave your wallet at home!”

DJ Irie, Flavor Flav. and Shaquille.Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

“And because I’m the man and I love New Orleans, no matter what kind of tickets you get, all tickets include a six-hour open bar. We want you to drink responsible and have fun.”

Tickets go on sale starting Jan. 17 and start at $199.

O’Neal’s Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, which he likes to eat just before taking the stage, will be a partner at the event. Additional partners include Carnival Cruise Line, Pepsi, BeatBox Beverages, Anheuser- Busch and Verizon.