Deanna Favre
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| Deanna Favre | |
 Favre (right) during a 2007 interview on NBC
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| Born | Deanna Tynes December 1968 (age 39–40) Kiln, Mississippi |
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| Residence | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor's degree in Exercise science |
| Known for | Breast cancer survivor and activist |
| Religious beliefs | Roman Catholic |
| Spouse | Brett Favre |
| Children | Brittany Nicole Favre Breleigh Ann Favre |
| Parents | Ann & Kerry Tynes |
| Website Deanna Favre Hope Foundation |
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Deanna Tynes Favre (born December 1968, Kiln, Mississippi)[1] is an American activist.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she became an activist in the fight against the disease and started the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation to raise money and awareness for women around the country. She is the wife of former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
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[edit] Family life
Deanna was the daughter of a single mother. She was adopted by Kerry Tynes when he married Deanna's mother, Ann. Deanna has a sister, Christie, and a brother, Casey.[1]
Deanna met Brett Favre while growing up in the small town of Kiln, Mississippi. They had attended school together since early childhood and began dating in high school during Deanna's sophomore and Favre's freshman year. After graduating from high school in 1986, she attended community college in Poplarville, Mississippi on a basketball scholarship. She then transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi to finish her degree.[1]
Aged 19, Deanna became pregnant and gave birth to Favre's daughter, Brittany Nicole, on February 6, 1989.[2][1] As a single mother, she put herself through college while working various jobs, including working for a collection agency.[3] She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in December 1994 with a degree in exercise science.[1]
Deanna moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin to live with Favre in 1995. Their relationship was strained during this time, which may have been related to Favre's newfound fame as an NFL quarterback and his addiction to Vicodin. Deanna said that Favre often ignored her and Brittany, and she described him as "loud, rough, and often hateful."[1] Deanna said she considered leaving Favre but worried that his addiction might become worse if she left.[4] Favre, with Deanna at his side, publicly announced his addiction on May 14, 1996.[4] Following his recovery, he credited Deanna as the reason he overcame the addiction.
During his recovery, Favre proposed to Deanna. She questioned it at first, but agreed when Favre went to get a marriage license and was told she needed to come in and sign it. Deanna Tynes and Brett Favre were married on July 14, 1996 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Green Bay.[2][1]
In 1999, Deanna realized Brett had a drinking problem. After Brett's younger brother's wedding, they fought and Favre went out for two nights, not returning to their home until Monday. Deanna had packed his bags and had them sitting in the courtyard, and told him "I'm done." Deanna had to call Brett's agent, and tell him to come pick up Brett or she was going to call 911. After this incident, Brett entered rehab for a second time. He has not had a drink since.[1]
Today, Deanna describes her relationship with Favre as stronger than ever. "All the stuff we've been through over the years has molded us into two different people. It's awesome to think where we started and where we are now," she said. "Our relationship has gotten to a much stronger point, a deeper love; we have so much respect and love for each other." [5]
"Brett is a completely different person and I can see the power of prayer in just that. It's changed our lives, our family." [5]
Deanna and Favre's second daughter, Breleigh Ann was born on July 13, 1999.[1][2]
During the football season, Deanna and Breleigh Ann Favre live in Green Bay with Favre. Elder daughter Brittany has a permanent home in Mississippi; she attends the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. During the off-season the family lives together in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[2]
[edit] Family Tragedies
On October 6, 2004, Deanna's 24-year-old brother, Casey Tynes, was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident on Favre's Mississippi property.[6] Then just days later on October 14, 2004, Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer.[2]
More recently, in late August 2005, Favre's family suffered another setback. Hurricane Katrina blew through Mississippi, destroying the family's home there. No family members were injured. Brett and Deanna's home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi was also damaged by the storm. Brett and Deanna housed 50 family members in their Mississippi home during Hurricane Katrina.[3]
[edit] Breast Cancer Patient/Activist
Deanna made headlines in October 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. As she began treatment, she began receiving letters from women throughout the country saying how they were motivated to get breast examinations after hearing her story. Following a lumpectomy and 5 months of chemotherapy, she is expected to make a complete recovery. Stepping into the national spotlight wasn't something that she wanted to do following her cancer diagnosis. She resented her diagnosis making front page headlines because of the husband's superstar status.[7] The experience has brought her closer to her husband and her faith. [5] The Favres are members of St. Agnes Parish in Green Bay and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[7] In 2005, Deanna Favre began selling pink Green Bay Packers hats to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. The hats outsold regular Packer hats during the first half of 2005.
[edit] The Deanna Favre Hope Foundation
Deanna created The Deanna Favre Hope Foundation which supports breast cancer education, women's breast imaging and diagnosis services for all women, including those who are medically underserved. She has the organization focus on underinsured and uninsured women after thinking about what it would have been like being diagnosed with cancer during the six years when she was a single mom.[8] The foundation has raised around $500,000 as of October 2007.[7]
Even before she started her own foundation, Deanna Favre ran the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, which raised more than $3 million for disadvantaged or disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi.[8]
Favre was featured during the opening on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast of the October 29, 2007 Green Bay Packers/Denver Broncos game. She was interviewed live during the game. She talked about her struggles with breast cancer; Brett, and Brett's performance on Monday Night Football right after his father's death.
[edit] Book
- Don't bet against me (October 1, 2007; Tyndale House Publishers; ISBN 978-1414319070)
Favre's autobiography. The book is accompanied by Pray for a Cure Bible, a New Living Translation of the Bible. The proceeds of the book benefit breast cancer. The book was released in October to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The book talks about all of the adversity that the Favres have gone through, including Brett's addiction to Vicodin painkillers, losing family members, and breast cancer.[7] Don't Bet Against Me! spent 10 weeks on either the primary or expanded New York Times hardcover, nonfiction bestsellers list, peaking at No. 13. There are more than 200,000 copies of the book in print.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Goyette, Caroline (2007-10-29). True Grit. Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b c d e Silverstein, Tom. "Favre's wife has breast cancer", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2004-10-26. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b Flanigan, Kathy. "Deanna Favre looks back, ahead", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2005-10-05. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b King, Peter (1996-05-27). Bitter pill. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b c Green Bay Packers Brett Favre and Wife Deanna Credit Catholic Faith. Catholic Online. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
- ^ "Favre's brother-in-law killed in ATV accident", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2004-10-06. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b c d Sam, Lucero. "Deanna Favre says faith guides her life", The Compass, Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, 2007-10-12. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
- ^ a b Deanna Favre Hope Foundation Mission Statement. Deanna Favre Hope Foundation. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
