High school softball team invites sick Albuquerque teen to throw first pitch

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – There was an amazing show of support for a sick Albuquerque teen who had a very simple birthday wish.

All Dayshaunarae Graves-Shaw wanted was cards in the mail, but a high school softball team gave her a big gift on top of that.

The Atrisco Heritage Jaguars softball team invited Dayshaunarae out here to throw out the first pitch before Tuesday’s game. But she ended up throwing out two first pitches, one to each team.

KRQE News 13 first reported about Dayshaundrarae on Sunday.

The 19-year-old was an honors student and athlete at one time, but a debilitating illness has caused her brain to start shrinking and left her in a wheelchair.

Her mom put out a Facebook post ahead of her 20th birthday asking for people to send cards to try and make Dayshaunarae smile again, and to give her something to look forward to when she goes out to the mailbox every day.

A player on the Jaguars softball team saw the story and invited Dayshaunarae out to meet the team and throw out the first pitch.

They gave her cards, presents, and even flowers

Dayshaunarae and her mom say this whole experience has been overwhelming.

“She’s happy and it’s making me happy,” said her mother, Athena Graves-Gass.

“Thank you, and I really appreciate this, I don’t even deserve it but thank you very much,” said Dayshaunarae.

Dayshaunarae hasn’t opened a lot of those cards yet. She’s waiting for her birthday on May 6th.

If you’d like to send Dayshaunarae a card, you can send it here: