My morning with dreamer, Maryann
Maryann and her husband didn’t mind the extra work or commute that the move entailed, and considered it an easy sacrifice for their family’s safety. She had been an administrative assistant, and he works for a food delivery company. For fun they spend their time with family activities. Scott was a coach, and Maryann a Pop Warner football mom. We are a football family, she says. Our son played until he became too tall for his age division, and now he coaches alongside his father. Specifically, this family loves Pop Warner, the Oklahoma Sooners, and college football. In that order.
Their dining room is a family football hall of fame. Its’ covered in photos, shots of their son during games and posing with trophies. Inspiration phrases, like, love heals and believe in family, are stenciled on the walls.
Life was good in their new home until 2007, when Maryann was diagnosed with breast cancer. It would be years of ups and downs, high hopes, then devastating disappointments. One day I woke up and couldn’t speak, she recalls. We learned the cancer had spread to my brain. She has multiple brain tumors.
Maryann told her horror story with unparalleled strength until I asked about her son, and tears flooded her face. He does not deserve this, she sobbed. Nobody does. An unflinching desire to bring her some happiness filled my heart. I learned the family had never vacationed together, but that Maryann no longer felt it was physically possible.
The tears that flowed when I asked about her son made me want to acquire something special she can give him. We will reach out to FOX Sports, as we are currently the network’s official college football charity and see what we can do. It’s not hard to want to provide for this sweet family.
I returned to my car where my 84-year-old father waited, gave him an extra hug, and gave quiet thanks for the privilege of meeting Maryann.
From the heart,
Thomas Rollerson
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