Day 15 How did you become friends with George Brett? The timing of this question feels especially fitting since today is George’s birthday. Happy Birthday, George! Back in 2018, I was living out a dream by working as a police officer in the Royals dugout. Before the game started, George’s son, Jackson, came down behind the dugout to say hello to my friend Sergeant Tommy Woods, who had graciously let me work alongside him that night. Tommy introduced us and mentioned that I had just been diagnosed with ALS. Not long after, I jokingly told Jackson, “Tell your dad to come down here. I want to meet him.” Normally, I would never say something like that. But I knew how deeply ALS mattered to George. It’s even referenced on the inscription of his statue beyond the right field wall. For more than 40 years, George has been committed to fighting ALS after losing his close friend Keith Worthington to the disease. He made Keith a promise that he would stay in the fight until there’s a cure. A little while later, Jackson returned and said, “George is down there and wants to meet you.” Instantly, I was nervous. What do you even say to your childhood hero? George greeted me with a hug and handed me a baseball he had signed. He asked how I was doing and made sure I had the support I needed. Before we finished talking, he asked what he could do for me. I remember laughing and saying, “Honestly, this is already pretty amazing.” But then I added, “Throwing out the first pitch with you would be awesome.” George smiled and said, “Consider it done.” Less than a month later, it happened. Before we parted ways that night, George also promised me something else — that he would stand beside me throughout my battle with ALS. Over the years, he has kept that promise in every way possible. A lot of people know George Brett as a Hall of Fame baseball player. I know him as a loyal friend, a man of his word, and someone who quietly shows up for people when they need it most. His friendship has been one of the greatest blessings of my ALS journey, and I will never stop being grateful for the kindness he’s shown me and so many others fighting this disease. #ALS #ALSAwareness #SarahsSoldiers #FightLikeAGirl