Dad With Alzheimers Surprised With Trip To NCAA College World Series

Baseball is a lot like life. It’s a day to day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life. – Ernie Harwell

When Matt Lea’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimers, life probably still had some ups, but most likely more tough downs. Not gonna lie, my heartstrings were tugged to max capacity watching that video, because it was clear this was a son making the most out of the opportunities he has left to make memories with his dad.

Alzheimers is a cruel & relentless disease that’s been likened to an ocean washing all the footprints of memory away. The only silver lining if you have it is if you’re a Browns fan. My heart truly goes out to anyone touched by it.

The disease aside, I was also moved by how genuine both Matt & his dad are. His dad is clearly floored to be surprised by his son, who drove 12 hours up from Florida. He hops right up from his recliner, and if you are and/or have a dad, you know leaving the LaZBoy is kind of a big deal. And then when he’s presented with a Mississippi State baseball shirt, he’s overjoyed. The surprise could have ended right there & he’d have been grateful. You can hear him proudly exclaim,

“I wore this uniform in State!”

And he did. He played baseball there his freshman year & remained a fan ever since.

When Matt continues, letting him know they’ll be road-tripping up to Omaha to watch Mississippi State play in the NCAA College World Series, his reaction does not disappoint (please read this in a southern accent),

“I’m just about peein’ my pants. Gollll-lee. Shoot. You’ll break my heart here.”

And then he tears up. And maybe I did, too, but I’m cheap so these disposable contact lenses are going on day 3, so that’s all this is.

When I checked Matt’s Twitter for any new updates, the option to message him was not available, and he had another video up saying he’d been inundated with people offering to pay for meals, flights, hotels… And to that he says a genuine, “thanks, but no thanks.”

Instead, he asks that people donate to the Alzheimers Fund.

Clearly Mississippi State (aka Hail State) baseball & Alzheimers patients have something in common: the will to fight.

They started the season 2 – 7 in the SCC, got a new coach after getting swept opening weekend, practiced on a construction site, and felt embarrassed to be stuck in what felt like a pit. Now they’ll be at the NCAA World Series in Omaha, with their first game against Washington State at 7pm on Saturday.

They say the ‘M&S’ on their shirts doesn’t just stand for Mississippi State, it stands for everyone who came before them. Matt’s dad is one of them, and it seems they both inspire each other.

One last moment of syrupy sweetness from me; best of luck to all the teams in the NCAA World Series this weekend.
(Just kidding, I’m only rooting for #HailState after that. Everyone else can get lost. Other teams, come at me with something that makes me ugly cry and then maybe we’ll talk.)

Again, if you want to learn more about Alzheimers or make a donation, click here.