by Warren Gerds
Source: GreenBayPressGazette.com
Feb. 27, 2007
One of first people Deanna Favre met after tearfully recounting her saga of breast cancer and family tragedy was Gail Brady of Green Bay.
"I'm living what she's saying," said Brady, 33, wiping tears.
Favre spoke Monday night at Lambeau Field Atrium on behalf of the Bellin College of Nursing as well as breast-cancer awareness through self-examination and early treatment.
Favre's 30-minute talk focused on her life in the wake of her diagnosis of Oct. 13, 2004, at age 35 and chemotherapy treatments that started Nov. 22 of that year.
Brady's started Thursday.
"My first goal after my first chemo treatment was to come here," she said. "So I made it."
The mother of a girl, 2, and boy, 4, and wife of "an awesome husband, Bob," Brady said what she most drew from Favre was the feeling "that I'll make it."
Favre's talk instilled the "faith and strength that Gail is going to get through it," said Brady's mother, Paula Derrah of Fortuna, Calif. "Everything she said is really inspiring."
Favre's talk in front of about 100 people started on a light note. It's hard getting a baby sitter, "especially for a 36-year-old," she said, referring to her husband, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (who's 37).
Mostly, Deanna Favre relayed serious messages.
"Tragedy does not discriminate," she said. Despite the images tabloids present of stars, "there is not a perfect life, even for Brett Favre and his family."
Her breast-cancer trial followed the deaths of her husband's father and her younger brother.
Hearing the diagnosis, "I remember my body shaking as though I was standing naked in 20-degree weather," she said.
Chemo brought night sweats, nausea, exhaustion, worry, "a new test of faith" and the end to her long hair, Favre said.
Her daughter Breleigh had the hardest time with her loss of hair. She had played with it since birth.
The first time Deanna Favre wore a hat, Breleigh said, "Mommy, your hair looks really pretty."
At age 5, Breleigh "told me a white lie to make me feel better," Favre said.
She spoke of a new appreciation for life, such as "a kiss blown to you from a ball field from someone you love." She earlier called her husband "my first and only true love."
Children, friends who stick with you and rainy days with puddles were savored more.
Eventually, "I learned the joy of cleaning the house without taking a nap," she said. Favre spoke often of God and faith.
"I have many things I cannot say, but I can say I am a breast-cancer survivor," she said, noting she gives prayers of thanks that "I am one of the lucky ones."
Favre spoke of some people "continuing to forget that we are just normal people who happen to be in the spotlight."
She also said, "I believe God has blessed me with the gift of life … and I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do."
