Photo sensation Abby Faber flying in to catch TCU football game

Abby Faber and her family are flying from Iowa to Fort Worth on Thursday, ready to take in TCU’s nationally televised game against West Virginia.

Abby’s father, Steve, texted the news to Star-Telegram photographer Paul Moseley, whose photo of the young Iowa State fan and TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin drew widespread Internet attention.

“They’re flying in by private jet for the game tomorrow,” Moseley said, reporting the text.

Faber, 7, was pictured in her wheelchair being greeted by Boykin at midfield before the coin toss for the TCU-Iowa State game on Oct. 17 in Ames, Iowa. The photo gained traction online when Boykin posted it to his Instagram account and other media outlets began sharing it, along with hundreds of Facebook and Twitter users.

An online fundraiser begun by TCU students raised thousands in donations for the girl, who was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy at age 3.

Steve Faber said the family was touched by Boykin’s gesture and the generosity it touched off.

“It's just mind-boggling really,” he told Sports Illustrated.

No plans were announced for the Faber family’s day on Thursday. But they will certainly be in attendance at the TCU game, which is at 6:30 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The news wasn’t exactly a secret. TCU coach Gary Patterson hinted this week that he might have a reason to meet Abby and her family for the first time.

Now it certainly looks like he will.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 11:44 PM with the headline "Photo sensation Abby Faber flying in to catch TCU football game."