With red cheeks and tearful eyes, Lorene Harrison got the surprise of a lifetime Friday afternoon.

“Please, ladies and gentleman, welcome Wu Shock,” announced Holly Armstrong of Sterling House of Derby, a senior home in Derby, Kan.

Harrison, a longtime Shocker fan, was surrounded by family for her 95th birthday party. And then there was Wu.

The seven-foot-plus mascot joined the party and found Harrison on the couch, jaw dropped, blushing. Wu joined her and wrapped a comforting arm around the birthday girl. Harrison wiped a tear or two.

“She was so thrilled,” said daughter Deb Hamlin. “She had no idea all this was going on.”

Hamlin helped arrange the Shocker-themed party with Sterling House of Derby. There were “Play Angry” posters, black and gold balloons, cake and even M&M’s.

Her mother has followed Wichita State basketball for a half a century, she said.

“My latest memories I could remember were in the 1960s, when I was big enough to remember.” Hamlin said. “And she would just sit at the kitchen table, hanging over the radio, listening to [the games].”

Since then, Harrison’s health has been on a decline. But that won’t put a stop to the spirit. Nowadays, Harrison goes to her daughter’s house to watch the basketball games, always dressed for the occasion.

Friday she wore gold, with a WSU visor and a black pearl necklace.

“At 95, there’s a lot of things that are slipping past her now. But let me tell you, Shocker basketball … She is dressed up like that every time there’s a Shocker game.”

For the party, Hamlin called about 20 family members in Junction City, Salina and Kansas City. About twice that many showed up. But Wu stole the show.

“She loves her family,” Hamlin said, “but she loves her Shockers, too.”

After family posed for photos with Wu and his biggest fan, Harrison couldn’t say much. Except for a simple, tearful, “I can’t believe it. It was unbelievable.”