Courtesy Photo/Boston CelticsShaquille O'Neal visits patients at the Spaulding North End Nursing and Therapy Center.

Patients and staff at the Spaulding North End Nursing and Therapy Center had a special surprise guest Monday night for their Celtics viewing party, center Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq visited with about 30 patients ranging in age from 13 to 102, sharing pizza, laughs and enjoying the Celtics and Nets game.

"Shaq's visit truly brightened the spirits of everyone at Spaulding North End and is something that will mean a great deal to all of us for a very long time," Spaulding Rehabilitation Network president David Storto . "We want to thank Shaq and the Boston Celtics organization for being so generous with their time and supporting the community in such a meaningful way."

Shaq made the visit in response to fan mail that he had received from an elderly man.

“It makes me happy to see the smiles and laughter of the great fans of the Boston Celtics,” O’Neal said. “One of the patients at the home had been an elevator operator at the Garden for over 40 years and she told me stories about Red Auerbach riding in her elevator.”