"To experience it at a young age is very grounding ... it's been a massive journey having two major heart surgeries, I had to have artificial heart valves put in due to the fact I wanted to continue playing ... For me the only thing is getting my confidence back on the field."
Already he has travelled the globe and achieved great things, representing New Zealand in 2007's under-19 Rugby World Championship, about the same time he was named IRB Under-19 Player of the Year.
It's a memorable period for another reason, operation number one, which put him out of the game as he recovered and learnt his limits. "After the first surgery it was unknown to me, it took a while, I had one-and-a-half years off rugby, because I didn't know how to deal with it."
Down time was shorter after the second operation, he could go jogging after just three months, but it was six months before contact sport was an option but Fruean stayed positive, focusing on family, faith and his future.
"Just waking up and seeing my family and my partner there, that was the thing I was most grateful about ... there's bigger things out there than rugby."
That's not to say his passion to wear the black jersey had fallen by the wayside, it was there in the background all the while pushing him to get fitter and stronger.
"I played for the junior All Blacks. One day, I'm aspiring to play for the All Blacks. So, small heart, big dreams ... I still have ambitions of becoming one of the world's greatest."
Signed to Hawke's Bay Magpies in the ITM Cup for a two-year deal, Fruean has shown his skill and always has the full support and backing from the team.
"Whenever I'm tired they think it's my heart, but it's probably me being lazy, they are sympathetic of my situation."
Another huge influence in his life was a father who took a firm approach to helping the former Porirua College head boy achieve his potential.
"If I played [a bad game of] rugby at high school, he would leave me there and make me walk home, but if I did good he would be waiting at the top of the hill for me."
Despite the surgeries, he's not planning life too far in advance nor is he penning a bucket list, rather taking each day as it comes and enjoying it to the full.
"I thought bucket lists were only for people who are getting ready to die, I never really thought about a bucket list, I have only really had aspirations of playing rugby at a high level."
He delivered his story to members of the Heartbeat Programme, a group of people brought together by Hawke's Bay District Health Board, who know better than most what he has been through.
His message was simple: Stay positive, active and for adults and children with a sore throat or fever to get to the doctor sooner rather than later.
Eventually, the artificial valves in his heart will need replacing, but that's a long while down the track. When he does go under the knife again, it'll be to insert more permanent solution, which would also put a halt to his rugby days.
"I will have a metal stint put in when I stop beating my body up."
