ORLANDO, Fla. — Osceola Magic play-by-play announcer Nick Gryniewicz is back on the job after undergoing a heart transplant.
In October 2024, Gryniewicz took an unexpected road trip, and it wasn’t for basketball.
“I would take a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, and never leave until I got a new heart,” said Gryniewicz, who has been in his role with Osceola for nine years.
What You Need To Know
Nick Gryniewicz has been the Osceola Magic’s play-by-play announcer for nine years
Gryniewicz had to step-away for year because of heart issues; he received a heart transplant in December 2024
He is back calling games for the Osceola Magic
“We didn’t know what it was, but for some reason, the right side of my heart was struggling to pump. I thought I was there to see some electric (specialist) to have another procedure. They deemed that procedure wasn’t necessary because my heart wasn’t going to make it much longer.”
He was in a hospital waiting for 65 days until he received news that he would be receiving a new heart.
After receiving the heart, Gryniewicz had to step away from the team for the entire 2024 season to recover.
He returned to the call at the start of this season.
It’s safe to say he loves his job.
“It’s the rush of the game, right? What has always attracted me to doing this and what has been the most fun is you’re part of the game,” Gryniewicz said.
“Especially when a guy comes down by two, here at home, and buries a 3, you can feel the roof come off the building, and to be a part of that is just incredible.”
You can hear his passion in every call.
But having a second chance at life was a double-edged sword.
“It’s a real conflicting feeling,” he explained. “Sitting and waiting day in and day out, hoping to get the call and really, you’re hoping something terrible happens to somebody else. Most likely it wasn’t somebody else’s time to go.”
Gryniewicz doesn’t know whose heart is pumping inside his chest right now.
All he can do is make sure to live his life to the fullest each day.
“The way I thought about it was, it’s the ultimate gift you’re giving somebody, and it’s something you’re grateful for and now you need to carry it on and make it worth something,” he said. “It’s such a level of appreciation I have to come here and do this. It is one of my true happy places in life to be able to call these games.”