Posted on 05/01/2005 3:39:56 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
(Bridgeport-WTNH, Apr. 28, 2005 11:50 PM) _ Eight months after he lost his legs to a flesh-eating bacteria, a Milford teen received a surprise visit from New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter Thursday, and things only got better from there. He also threw out the first pitch at a Bridgeport Bluefish game, and proceeds from ticket sales will go to help pay his medical bills.
With each hard-earned step cheers rang out from the Bluefish stadium Thursday night. It wasn't for a player. It was for a Milford teen-ager.
Foran High School student John Tartaglio has triumphed from a rare muscle eating disease. It cost him his legs and part of his arm and nearly claimed his life.
He threw out the first pitch for the Bluefish season opener. The game was a fundraiser to help cover the $150,000 cost of his prosthetic legs.
"I couldn't ask for more than that," he said.
It was the topper of the day that started with Tartaglio's wildest dreams coming true. A big Yankees fan, he was surprised by a visit from Derek Jeter.
"Derek Jeter shows up and announces I'm going to spend the day with him."
Arranged by the Oprah Winfrey Show, Jeter showed up at Tartaglio's high school pep rally on Oprah's Wildest Dreams tour bus. He was whisked away in style to Yankee Stadium.
"We went to Sikorsky and flew in Donald Trump's helicopter and I went to Yankee Stadium from there. I got to meet the players, hang out with Jeter for a little bit. I got a tour of the clubhouse and the player's lounge. It was an amazing day."
At the Bluefish stadium just before the game rain was in the sky and then a rainbow. A perfect ending shining onto an expected day.
"There's been so many nice things. This is just one of the many things I have to thank everyone for."
At Sikorsky, though, I would have whined for a ride in a Blackhawk helicopter, rather than being hustled off in Donald Trump's.
As Sox fan it's tough to admit but nobody can say that the Pinstripes aren't a class act. This morning I read that A-Fraud saved an eight year old boy from being run over by a run away truck the last time the Yanks were in Boston.
Derek Jeter is so much bigger than baseball!!!
When they fly out of Sikorsky for tests they have to go out over the river and follow it out to the Sound (I've been told they're not allowed to fly over land in the immediate vicinity).
I drive over the bridge every day to work and one evening was westbound, about 5 seconds onto the bridge (the old steel deck, so the side rails were lower) going home, and they must have been doing some kind of test because one was hovering, a little above bridge height. Maybe 50 yards off. Double side pods. One hell of a sight. :)
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
;-)
Jeter's a class act.
I hate the Yankees, but I have always liked Jeter (even if he is the 2nd-best shortstop on the team.)
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