Meet Mets fan Daniel.
Daniel was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when he was 18-years-old.
Ten years later, when he was 28, the medicine he was taking to help with the Crohn’s worked against him, resulting in a rare form of lymphoma.
During these two difficult times, the Mets were there to help.
I spoke with Daniel to learn more about the team’s impact on his hope, courage, strength, and fight.
Tell me your full story.
The two seasons I needed them the most was in 2006 and 2016.
In 2006, I was 18-years-old wrapping up my freshman year of college and I was experiencing very bad stomach pain.
We found out that I had an autoimmune disease called Crohn’s disease.
While I was adjusting to my new life dealing with this disease, it didn’t matter if I had a good day or bad.
I knew at whatever time first pitch was that I would be sitting down and taking my three-hour escape and not worry about real life issues or pains that I would have experienced on a given day.
Unfortunately, 10 years later in June 2016, the medicine that I would take for my Crohn’s backfired.
I was getting those sharp pains back again but this time it was so unbearable that I had a few trips to the hospital.
We learned that I had a rare form of lymphoma.
As you would think, this shook me to the core, finding out at the age of 28 that I had cancer and I would be in the fight of my life.
Thankfully, once again, big life moments came during baseball season.
The Mets helped me every day by keeping my mind busy.
During both of these times, it didn’t matter if I had a great day or a very bad day.
I would have the Mets on TV or radio to make it better.
In 2016, I made it a goal for myself to attend Mike Piazza’s jersey retirement night.
My then fiancée (now wife) and I had made an agreement that if I had a good week of treatments that I would be able to go and not have to sell our seats for the game.
I powered through and got to see my favorite baseball player get the night he deserved.
That night was the moment for me, because going to Citi Field was always a given for me to do.
That was the night I learned that it really is a privilege for me to be able to enjoy a baseball game live because those 10-15 games a year I would attend drastically cut to that one single game for that season.
I will be the first to admit that I broke down and cried a few times that night because I was able to be “normal” again, just if it was for one night, and that is going to Met games for my escape/happy place.
Wow! Thank you for sharing all of that. How are you doing health-wise now?
Health-wise I’m doing well. In November I’ll be in remission for four years.
I am so happy to hear that! It sounds like the Mets gave you the strength to persevere. Would you agree?
Yes, the Mets help me learn not to ever quit or give in no matter how bleak certain situations may be.
That picture from Mr. Met is super sweet. What’s the story behind that?
While I was sick in 2016, I also was getting married to my now wife in November.
My brother and dad rented out a suite at Citi for my bachelor party. Unfortunately, the morning of, I got sick and had to go to the hospital to get treatment.
So I knew my brother and dad put so much hard work planning the event for months I told everyone I invited to go, even though I couldn’t make it.
So I had my own bachelor party in a hospital bed and watched the whole game while healing up.
I FaceTimed everyone and texted everyone as if I was there.
My brother made a sign for everyone to take photos of. One of my friends saw Mr. Met from the distance and ran over to him and had him take a picture of the sign.
Do you have a story you want to share about how the Mets helped you through a difficult time? We want to hear it – DM us on Twitter.
