I was very moved by this story of a sports radio program devoting it’s entire show to Chris Spielman’s wife, Stefanie, who had just died after her fifth and final bout of breast cancer. Instead of talking about the big Ohio State verses Michigan game, they dedicated the whole show to her:

And I admit, I was dubious. An entire afternoon of radio programming? The day before the biggest game of the year? I thought, That’s nice, but how much can they possibly say about her?
Obviously, I didn’t know the full story.
People in Columbus live for the Michigan game, and to deny them a platform to speak about it the day before the game…well, it was just unfathomable.
[…]
I learned that it was during her first bout with cancer that Chris stepped away from football to be by her side; I learned that her cancer would return four more times before finally taking her life. When Stefanie lost her hair, Chris shaved his own. I learned that they have four children (two of which were born after her first diagnosis). When doctors advised her to have an abortion because she was on the drug Herceptin–a newer drug on which no one had ever given birth to a child–Stefanie and Chris refused. And their child was born without any imperfections.

She raised money for research and to help other women with the disease. Amazing! It’s hard enough to fight cancer let alone find the strength to help others. And she had a very good attitude about it:

“I know there’s a reason God gave me breast cancer, and I’m supposed to do something with it.”
[…]
“I do not feel sorry for myself. I do not wish this would have happened to anyone else. I cannot let this get the best of me, and I will not let this ruin the rest of my life–no matter how long it is.”

I was touched that her husband would leave his career to help take care of her. I was blessed that my husband was able to help me get through cancer treatment so I know the importance of having the loving support of a husband. I can’t see how I would have gotten through this without him.
(via @donmilleris)