The New York Yankees honored their retiring captain Sunday with a 45-minute pregame ceremony that included surprise appearances by NBA great Michael Jordan and baseball ironman Cal Ripken Jr. But there was one person for whom Derek Jeter's two-decade career has meant more than anyone on the field at Yankee Stadium. Brielle Saracini, 23, couldn't be at Derek Jeter Day, a celebration of the Yankee's shortstop three weeks before the likely end of his baseball career, even though she desperately wanted to be. Mutual admiration: Brielle Saracini may be Derek Jeter's biggest fan, but he's in awe of her bravery
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Brielle Saracini, 23, lost her father in the 9/11 terror attacks
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Victor Saracini was the pilot of the second plane hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center
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Brielle became obsessed with baseball and wrote to Derek Jeter about the death of her father
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Jeter invited Brielle, her sister and their mother to a game on September 26, 2001, just 15 days after Victor Saracini's death
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It marked the beginning of a longstanding friendship
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Now, Brielle is fighting Hodgkins' lymphoma and Jeter is still in her corner
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She was too ill to attend Sunday's ceremony for Jeter in honor of his retirement
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She is hoping to attend his very last game at Fenway Park
As you have heard, there was a horrible accident that involved the @placeholder, there was a hijacking on a plane.