“I do what I do. Always,” said Shaquille O’Neal and always made sure that the rest of the O’Neal universe also keeps up with him. Now his children carry on his passion for the game and the values he instilled in them. The O’Neal kids like Shaqir and Shareef are making waves in basketball while also displaying a deep appreciation for family, as evidenced by Me’Arah O’Neal’s recent heartfelt tribute to her mother, Shaunie Henderson.

Me’Arah, the youngest daughter of Shaquille and Shaunie, recently took to Instagram to share a heartwarming post in honor of her mother’s birthday. The image, which shows Me’Arah embracing her mother, was accompanied by a heartfelt caption expressing her love and gratitude.

“I am where I am today, entirely because of you. I am wholeheartedly grateful to be able to call you my momma. The strongest most beautiful woman I know. @iamshaunie I love you, happy birthday,” wrote Me’Arah as the caption of her story.

Shaunie reshared the story, responding with, “I love you more, baby girl. Thank you.” This exchange resonated deeply with fans, shedding light on the strong bond between mother and daughter.

Born on November 27, 1972, in Wichita Kansas, Shaunie was into a community and resilience-heavy family. But during her marriage to NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, she made her journey to motherdom a sweeping one when she gave birth to Me’Arah O’Neal on May 1, 2006.

The 50-year-old actress has been a steadfast supporter of her children’s endeavors, often stepping into the spotlight as the guiding force behind their success. This was evident during Me’Arah’s college basketball debut with the Florida Gators, where Shaunie was the only parent present in the stands. In that game, with the help of her mother’s support, the young forward scored 7 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist in just twenty minutes, helping the Gators defeat Florida Atlantic Owls (82-54).

“The moments I wish I could split myself in half…. Both my babies game openers tonight. I’ll be sitting in the stands watching one while holding my phone watching the other. MOTHERHOOD! I love every minute of it. Cheering for both at the same time!” Shaunie had written in an Instagram post.

However, Me’Arah’s experience wasn’t only limited to her first game. As she goes deep into her college basketball career, she has shown nothing but signs of improvement. She is currently averaging 7.8 PPG, and 3.7 RPG, which is quite good considering she has only played four games till now.

However, Me’Arah wasn’t the only kid to wish her mother. Amirah O’Neal also took to her Instagram Story and penned a beautiful message that read, “Happy Birthday to the best mom ever! Your love, strength, and kindness inspire everyone around you. Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made and the countless ways you’ve supported us. On this special day, I hope you feel all the love you give to others returned to you tenfold. May your year ahead be filled with joy, laughter, and all the things that make you smile. You truly deserve the best! Enjoy your day momma girl!”

Shaunie even reposted Amirah’s story with the caption, “I love Meemz, Thank You.” Moreover, Myles and Shaqir also paid tribute to their mother by posting respective stories on their Instagram. This heartfelt moment between the kids and Shaunie reminds us of the importance of family in achieving greatness. However, even though, the 18-year-old was the first to give a tribute to his mother there was a time when she scared Shaunie.

How Me’Arah gave Shaunie a fright

It’s no doubt that Me’Arah has been making waves on the college basketball court. But even before joining the Gators, her resume was great. She was ranked the third-highest prospect in Texas and the 33rd-ranked recruit in the country. However, this greatness turned out to be a scary experience for Shaunie.

While at Episcopal High School, the young forward reached the finals of the Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A State Championship. Shaunie, who was present in the stands during the game alongside Pastor Keion Henderson, admitted just how intense the match was. “This is a really BIG DEAL that happened today!!! THE CHAMPS are here!!! #EHS I could not be more proud of my babygirl. Even though I was stressed and was sweating like I was playing,” she had later expressed in a post caption.

The nail-biting moments had Shaunie on edge, her emotions swinging between pride and anxiety as she watched her daughter dominate on the court. Despite the tense atmosphere, Me’Arah’s skills helped her high school team defeat the Kinkaid School (66-54) and clinch the title, proving there was ultimately nothing to fear. This incident highlights the close bond the 18-year-old shares with her mother, even while living apart.