Atlantic Beach Estates woman lives her dream with the Mets

The New York Mets batting practice on April 21 prior to its game against the Chicago Cubs was a typical baseball workout with some ground balls, line-drives, and even some deep hit home-runs bouncing off the seats in Citi Field. The quiet and clear afternoon is startled by only the swing of a bat cracking against the force of a ball.

Suddenly, waves of children in David Wright jerseys cluster against the barriers, talking wildly, and imitating the players. Adults with similar faces of excitement stand more guarded, but equally amazed by the sight of the stadium from the field.

Approximately 35 invited guests, celebrating the successful liver transplant surgery of Maryann “Mak” Steinbock, an Atlantic Beach Estates resident and Mets fan since 1962, and the great lengths the Nassau County Police and New York Police Department highway patrol went to save her life seven weeks ago are the guests for the night’s big game.

“Isn’t this wild?” asked Carol Miller of Cedarhurst, Steinbock’s best friend and organizer for the event. Her exuberance penetrates the air around her as she runs from person to person, place to place.

The officers, who escorted Steinbock, 59, to the hospital during the severe snowstorm on February 26 to the Montefiore medical center in the Bronx to receive a new liver, attended the game in uniform with their families.

“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” said Nassau County officer James Disanti who answered the call to transport Steinbock to the hospital in February. “We help people every day and we don’t expect to be paid back like this.”

“It’s great to just support Mak,” said Nassau officer Jacek Trybala, leader of Steinbock’s transport convoy. “We’re like a family now, we’re so close.”

As everyone gathered for autographs and pictures with approaching players, attention never left Steinbock, mingling back and forth between reporters and beloved family members. Later she would throw out the first pitch, a lifelong Mets fans “wildest dream.”

“It’s just beyond,” said Steinbock, at a loss for words to describe her emotions. “Beyond, beyond.”

Wearing her Mets jersey, Steinbock smiles as she tells people her t-shirt underneath reads “I’m still calling it Shea.” One would never suspect her as a transplant recipient with enough energy to throw the first pitch in from center field.

Steinbock credits her love of the Mets as a motivation and a distraction.

“It’s like a blur,” said Steinbock of the drive to the hospital. “As soon as I found out the driver was a Met fan I began rambling on. It kept me going.”

Aside from the excitement over the Mets, Steinbock was touched by the turnout of friends and family, which now includes the officers who got her to the surgery on time.

“They all became family,” said Steinbock. “All I can say is that it’s beyond my wildest dreams. Beyond.