Monday Night Football Saved This Woman's Life

By Erin Zammett Ruddy

As I’m sure you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which means a whole lot of stuff that isn’t usually pink is now pink (Nick and I actually burned a breast cancer ribbon-wrapped Duraflame log the other night—the flames were pink, I kid you not.) October is also peak season for football and the NFL has been pinked right along with our yogurt containers and fake, chemical-laced logs. The players wear pink cleats, the refs toss pink coins, the goal posts are wrapped in pink pads, and, of course, the cheerleaders shake pink pom poms. There is an ongoing debate over what impact the pinking of America truly has on the epidemic of breast cancer in this country but before you weigh in, read this email, sent to the New York Jets two days ago:

Name: Tina A

Subject: Community Relations

Message: Last year October I was watching a Jets game and noticed the pink the team was wearing. I didn’t know why and asked my husband. He said it was for breast cancer awareness. That night for the first time ever I gave myself a self breast exam. You guys saved my life! I am a 34 year old mother of 3 and I was diagnosed 2 weeks later with breast cancer.The outcome had I not seen that game and the players wearing pink would have more than likely been tragic because the cancer had already started to spread and was making its way toward my lymph nodes. I just wanted to say thank you, and to let you know that your efforts in creating breast cancer awareness work. I am living proof. It is a year later and I am here and cancer free. I underwent chemo and radiation and I am here thanks to you.

Sincerely,

Tina A, Staten Island, NY

How awesome is that? It gives me the chills. My sister and I are both moms and cancer survivors(lymphoma and leukemia, respectively) so it hit particularly close to home. Say what you will about the NFL but three kids in Staten Island still have their mom to tuck them in tonight because a bunch of dudes ran around in pink cleats. I spoke to Tina last night and she’s only a few months out of treatment but she’s feeling good. And she is eternally grateful to the NFL. She said she usually just waited until her annual gynecologist appointment to have her breasts examined, but after catching a glimpse of Gang Green in pink, she took matters into her own hands. Literally. Within two weeks she started treatment at Sloan Kettering. Her children were 5, 4 and one. The chemo and radiation were grueling but she never missed a school drop off (her husband would drive and she’d stay in the car, often too tired to get out but still present for her kids). This weekend the whole family will be participating in The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk to pay it forward. You rock, Tina! 

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