The batboy or girl doesn't normally get to throw out the first pitch. But 74-year-old Wanda Shannon isn't your ordinary batgirl. This great grandmother is a lifelong Astros fan and now she's living out her lifelong dream.
"She's been a nervous wreck all day," her granddaughter Misti Acton said.
Acton says her grandmother was a fan dating back to the Astrodome days, so when Acton heard about a contest to become an honorary bat girl...
"I knew right then I had to enter Bammaw for that," she said.
One letter to the Astros later, Bammaw, as Acton affectionately calls Shannon, was ultimately chosen. Wearing her brand new jersey, Shannon even got to meet several players.
"I was blown away, I could not believe it," Shannon said.
What really made tonight so special is Bammaw doesn't know how many more games she'll be able to listen to on the radio.
"This is her third battle with cancer," Acton said.
"It's been hard because I've gone through chemo several times," Shannon said.
Her husband of 40-plus years is also facing the health battle of his life. So one night away from doctors and hospitals is turning out to be better than any medicine.
"I've had so many ups and downs with my illness and I said, 'Well it's time for a turnaround and I think this is going to be it,'" Shannon said.
This is going to be the game she will always remember. And so will her family.
