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Chris Spielman tackles cancer

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    Former Detroit Lion details wife's battle

  • Duration 4:09
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-- -- it has done it all the game of football he was a -- college for a house statement -- played ten season the pros then became a TV in the TV analyst with ESPN.

But it was off the field -- that is toughest opponent in 2009 after an eleven year -- With breast cancer his wife Stephanie she lost her long battle with cancer and now -- sharing personal journey in his new book that's why I'm here.

Good morning to -- morning no one of the things that I remember most about your story.

Is how you devoted your life to your wife.

After she became ill.

Well couple reasons for that one is god blessed me financially to be able to make that choice for many men in my situation that don't have that opportunity to step away from their job.

I did and for our marriage.

It was always about me even when we went on vacation I don't care where we go the songs had a great weight room -- and -- great -- to run on a train on so.

For me we made that decision for one reason one.

I said in sickness and health and I meant it.

In another thought that went into is that when our kids have difficult decisions to make they're going to be a look back on her mother and father's actions.

As opposed -- just -- words sushi -- wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in -- she started twelve -- long battle with -- twelve years.

A roller coaster ride and you know I -- the book you'll see -- I transform myself I've become more of a complete man has opposed to just.

Football you know when I was a player.

I define myself this way want to play football when a coach and I want to die.

There's a transformation.

Obviously it's a faith driven book and you'll see how things become more protein more important in my life.

-- story like to share real quick is that.

What she was first diagnosed.

It was really interesting because I was the pep talk guy.

We're gonna beat this thing where to find its weaknesses -- -- exploited we're gonna destroy it.

Three hours later we're driving to the James cancer hospital the house to university of how my -- up against.

Car window I slam my fist up against the ceiling and I say why us -- happen to us because we -- -- -- third child and I was coming off of the severe injury.

She looked at me with a look of discussed.

But she sits -- -- tone of what she never used before.

How dare you -- -- -- what she knows how do you see that with all the blessings that we -- given up to this point in all the hands that served us.

Right then and there -- decided to become a servant the servant of god a service -- and certain of community in that order.

And now you're raising -- for children with Stephanie she had -- together had two more children after she became -- What is it like being a full time -- well I think all single parents can identify and that sometimes you feel woefully inadequate.

There you get in enough time in her -- there.

Age that I have is 1918.

And so they're different challenges with that but I have learned to get in touch with my feminine sides of the city where -- become my Rem more patient.

A more tolerant a more understanding.

My kids are very independent and we choose to celebrate their mother's life as opposed to mourn her death now we have our challenges don't get me wrong.

But she was a wonderful lady that was a -- -- and I'm just trying to carry on that mission that's what I promised her.

A couple days before she died and I'll be the best that I can be -- -- and carry her mission onward as she passed through the age of 42 in 2009 you've raced with her foundation in their name.

Over ten million dollars -- is this is interest thing.

We use my NFL platform to get this started with a goal initially -- 100000 dollars.

People got behind -- -- became a voice four breast cancer.

-- right now we're ten million dollars in the interest in part about that every dollar goes to research is not one dollar that goes to overhead expenses a lot of great breast cancer organizations out there.

Not many can say that at the James.

Well it's an amazing story an amazing book that's why I'm here.

Kris Dielman lot of guys could learn a lesson or two from you here thank you thank you accidentally person I think -- -- still play so we -- think about it I'll take a shot at the -- it.

I did so I've watched it right.

My nose is bleeding already think it about it.

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