Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has played his last two games with the knowledge that his wife, Deanna, had breast cancer diagnosed and will undergo chemotherapy treatments over the next five months.
Eight days after his wife's brother, 24-year-old Casey Tynes, was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident on Favre's property in Mississippi, Favre and his wife were told about her condition on Oct. 14. Three days later, the Packers defeated the Detroit Lions, 38-10. They followed that with a 41-20 trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
After losing four in a row, quarterback Brett Favre has led the Packers to a pair of stirring victories with the knowledge that his wife, Deanna, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
(Paul Sancya - AP)
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The news about Favre's wife, which the quarterback's mother disclosed to the family's hometown newspaper in Mississippi on Monday, adds to an unusually large list of tragedies, illnesses and injuries that have befallen the Packers since they were knocked out of the playoffs in January. But after a four-game losing streak that dropped their record to 1-4, the Packers have won two games in a row and, as they prepare to play in Washington for the first time in 25 years on Sunday, seem to have regained their form.
As usual, Green Bay's attack is being led by Favre, who has faced the Redskins twice in his career, though never in Washington. Despite personal tragedies, a concussion and nagging injuries to his shoulder and throwing hand, Favre is on track for another top year, having thrown for 1,718 yards and 13 touchdowns with just six interceptions through seven games.
In addition to the death of his brother-in-law, Favre's father died last December. Two Green Bay team executives died this past summer, a coach underwent emergency angioplasty this month and the team has suffered a series of injuries.
Deanna Favre was recently released from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York after undergoing a lumpectomy and has been told to expect a full recovery, Brett Favre's mother, Bonita, told the Gulfport (Miss.) Sun Herald.
"Brett was relieved to know that the situation is not as bad as it could have been," his brother, Scott, told the newspaper. "We think they got [the cancer] out."
Favre has not commented publicly about his wife's condition. He was not available yesterday, a day off for the Packers, but team spokesman Jeff Blum said the quarterback will address questions about his wife's condition today.
Blum indicated that a small number of Favre's teammates knew of his wife's illness, as did Coach Mike Sherman, several assistants and a few other team officials.
Favre missed practice the day he learned about the diagnosis, but news of his wife's illness was not announced until the quarterback's mother spoke to the newspaper, located near the family's home in Kiln, Miss.
"The family has been through a great deal and we will get through this," Bonita Favre said. "We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support. We're a strong family, and with the help of the Lord, we'll get through this."
Brett and Deanna Favre were childhood sweethearts, married in 1996 and have two daughters. Deanna runs her husband's foundation, which has contributed more than $1 million to help disadvantaged youngsters in Wisconsin and Mississippi.
Favre, who turned 35 on Oct. 10, faced a family tragedy at the end of last season with the sudden death of his 58-year-old father, Irv. In addition to the death of his brother-in-law, Favre has battled injuries this season. He has suffered a concussion and, in Sunday's victory over Dallas, he injured his right hand, which remains sore after striking an opponent's helmet. He also has an injured left shoulder. Still, Favre has played in 198 straight games and is expected to start Sunday at FedEx Field.
For the team, the game will mark the halfway point of a season of professional loss. Shortly before training camp, Mark Hatley, vice president of football operations and Sherman's right-hand man, died of a heart attack, and soon afterward longtime scout John "Red" Cochran died, also of a heart attack.
