On Tuesday night, 18-year-old Ally Henglein made an impassioned plea to the Mets on behalf of her 82-year-old grandmother, Kathleen Selig, who was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer.
Describing her grandmother as a diehard Mets fan "from the start," Henglein gave color to the life Selig has led and asked for help on Twitter with bringing attention to her grandmother with the hope that the Mets could contact her and help "brighten her spirits."
"She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and always took the opportunity to go see a ball game with her father," Henglein wrote. "Since the mid 1960's, she has lived and breathed everything Mets. She's covered in blue and orange head to toe. She wears Mets apparel every day of her life, day and night, winter or summer. She even paints her nails blue and orange, and has worn a gold Mets necklace for the last 18 years that I have known her."
Shortly after Henglein posted her message on Twitter, Pete Alonso DM'd her and quote-tweeted it.
Sending my love to your grandma. It's stories like these that make me extra proud to be a Met. Check your DM, I'd love to send her something special https://t.co/GYvgmTbo74
- Pete Alonso (@Pete_Alonso20) March 18, 2020
On Wednesday afternoon, Henglein was overjoyed when Mets manager Luis Rojas called her grandmother. Alonso also called.
A heartfelt surprise for a very special fan. 🧡💙@Pete_Alonso20 and Luis Rojas gave a call to @allyhenglein's grandmother, Kathleen, who has been a die-hard #Mets fan her entire life and was recently diagnosed with cancer. https://t.co/J5kEKn8IB4 pic.twitter.com/AAp7Svgp8R
- New York Mets (@Mets) March 18, 2020
"She couldn't hold back tears, she didn't think it was real until she heard his voice," Henglein tweeted. "Thank you to the @Mets You gave my Gammy the strength she needs to get through this."
Along with Alonso and Rojas, former Met Gregg Jefferies also reached out.
"Kathleen you hang in there, the world needs great Mets fans like you," Jefferies tweeted. "God bless you."
