The Illinois basketball team doesn’t even know Dana Garcia.

But it has done more for her than they will ever know.

Garcia is a 43-year-old mother of three from Ohio. She suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on Jan. 4.

Julian Garcia found his wife lying on the floor unconscious after picking up their two daughters from soccer practice.

Doctors rushed Garcia into surgery. One of the aneurysms ruptured and doctors needed to stop the bleeding.

The surgery went well, but there were complications.

Garcia was put on a respirator for two weeks after having respiratory problems.

She lost all feeling on the left side of her body.

Garcia spent three weeks in ICU.

Somehow Garcia has recovered. I think this may qualify as a miracle.

Part of Garcia’s rehab has been to read newspapers online. Garcia’s husband, Julian, and one of Garcia’s friends, and my aunt, Becky Rickman, attended Illinois.

Garcia asked Rickman to send her Daily Illini articles on the Illinois basketball team as part of her rehab.

“I think that it is a miracle that I found her in time still alive, that she made it through the brain surgery, and that she is making an amazing recovery,” Julian said.

Most Illinois fans have probably felt blessed to watch a team play as well as Illinois has this year.

So far Illinois has won 28 straight games. Been ranked No. 1 for 12 weeks. Won its second consecutive outright Big Ten title. The first team to do it in 53 years.

And Illinois is one of the favorites for a national title.

But watch your words. Garcia is blessed. Illinois fans aren’t.

I don’t think I would be going out on a limb by saying some Illinois fans may consider an Illinois national title one of the finest moments of their lives.

And if you hear anyone say that, or this is you, think about Garcia.

Illinois is helping Garcia get her life back.

Garcia is now walking and talking. Her memory is fine, too.

By reading about the Illini, Garcia is taking one step closer to being able to play with her children again.

By reading about the Illini, Garcia is taking one step closer to volunteering at her children’s schools again.

It’s one of her favorite hobbies.

She has done so well in rehab, Garcia was able to go home and spend Sunday with her family.

“The doctors are amazed at the recovery that she is making,” Julian said.

Use Garcia to put Illinois’ season in perspective. Remember there are more important things than some basketball game.

“This incident has given us another opportunity to reflect on the true priorities in life and to realize what impact you can make on people’s lives by being involved, volunteering and in general by being friendly and helpful to others,” Julian said.

If Illinois loses. Life will go on.

If Illinois wins. Great. Celebrate.

One thing to learn from a story like Garcia’s is to cherish every moment you have.

An Illinois national title is something to cherish. Appreciate it.

And remember to take in every little aspect for the rest of this Illinois season.

Special seasons like this don’t come around on a regular basis. Appreciate it.

Just don’t place too much value in it.

People can survive without Illinois basketball. People can’t survive without family and friends. You never know when they will be gone. Appreciate them.

Garcia could be out of the hospital as soon as next weekend.

She will still have to go through outpatient therapy.

And Garcia will still be reading some newspapers.

So the Illini can still help Garcia.

Making it to St. Louis for the Final Four is just another way for the Smilin’ Illini to display its best trait.

Unselfish basketball.