Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer experienced a heartwarming moment as her son Calvin, aged 8, proudly threw the honorary first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game on May 17. Accompanied by her husband Brian Fichera and their three boys—Calvin, Oliver (5), and Rusty (3)—they enjoyed a family outing at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox faced the Atlanta Braves.
In a touching video shared by TODAY, Calvin’s enthusiastic pitch was met with celebration as he and Dylan shared a high five afterward. The duo celebrated further with Red Sox catcher Connor Wong and coach Jason Varitek, who caught their pitches. Dylan also took a moment to interact with Wally the Green Monster, the team mascot, who playfully allowed her to wear a large baseball cap.
Dylan took to Instagram to share a sweet family photo of the day, featuring the entire family in matching custom Red Sox jerseys with the number 25. This particular game was especially important since it marked Fenway Park’s inaugural Celiac Awareness Night, coinciding with Dylan’s advocacy for her son Calvin, who was diagnosed with celiac disease at age 6.
Prior to the game, Dylan posted a series of images of her boys enjoying gluten-free donuts and visiting the New England Aquarium. The family capped off their day by witnessing a thrilling 7-6 victory for the Red Sox, highlighted by a dramatic walk-off home run. Dylan joyfully noted, “Calvin said ‘today was the best day of my life.’ I couldn’t agree more buddy!! Hard to top today!”
Expressing gratitude towards the Red Sox for making the day meaningful, Dylan highlighted the significance of Celiac Awareness Night. In past discussions, she shared the challenges they faced before Calvin’s diagnosis, emphasizing how they have embraced a gluten-free lifestyle to ensure he can still enjoy dining. She actively promotes awareness through her “Cooking with Cal” series, where she creates recipes that are both gluten-free and enjoyable.
Celiac disease, explained by Dr. Lisa Fahey of the Celiac Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, leading to various health symptoms. Dylan hopes that sharing their journey will assist other families navigating similar dietary challenges.
This heartwarming family experience not only showcased the joy of a day at the ballpark but also highlighted the importance of raising awareness for celiac disease in a fun and engaging environment.