A single mother of two is recovering after a line-drive foul ball hit her in the face.
Dana Mattay frequently attends RoughRider minor league baseball games at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas, in part because she loves the family atmosphere.
She says she was celebrating starting a new job as a school counselor at Gunstream Elementary in Frisco, as well as celebrating back to school for her children, when she headed out to the ballpark on Aug. 14.
What happened at that game changed everything in an instant.
“I remember hearing, you know, the bat hit the ball. I remember hearing that but then the next thing I remember is just like I said, it was almost like it was in a little tunnel it happened so fast,” Mattay said.
She believes she had just bent over to pick up some popcorn and was coming back upright when she was struck between the eyes by a line-drive foul ball.
“In that split second I was like, 'Ok, I’m alive. I’m going to get through this. I’m going to be positive. God saved me,'" Mattay said. “In my life, I’m going to keep moving forward.”
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Later, when the swelling subsided, it revealed the damage was significant. A week after she was hit, Mattay underwent nine hours of reconstructive surgery to prevent internal problems that could affect her breathing.
Mattay tells NBC 5 they removed part of her rib to use in the reconstruction of her face.
Nearly three weeks after the accident, Mattay remains incredibly positive and is overwhelmed by an outpouring of love and support.
“I have been beyond humbled and I don’t have words to express the extreme gratitude that I have for everyone who has stepped in and picked up my kids, [have] taken care of them, stayed with me, stayed with them,” Mattay said.
Her family says her surgery cost $96,000, and while she has health insurance, it may not pay.
Her sister has set up a GoFundMe account for Mattay to help with medical bills and missed work during her recovery.
Mattay wants her story to bring more awareness to what can happen at the ballpark.
She tells NBC 5 she doesn’t fault anybody, and says the Frisco RoughRider organization has been great.
The RoughRiders released the following statement to NBC 5:
“The RoughRiders have been in regular, direct and personal contact with the family of the fan injured by a foul ball during our August 15 home game. Whenever there are ballpark accidents that result in injury, we try to establish and maintain a close relationship and line of communication with the individual and their family.”
Mattay says this won’t stop her from attending RoughRider games in the future, but after everything she has endured, she thinks ballparks, not just in Frisco, but everywhere, could use more netting to help keep fans safe.
