Husband's Football Dreams Realized

(CBS)  Erica Boaz was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Coping with the disease has been difficult for her, but she says it's also been hard on the whole family — especially her husband, Steve.

"Definitively the 'in sickness and in health' part of our vows have been tested this past year and a half. I'm the sickness part and he's the health part," said Erica, of Moreno Valley, Calif. "Through my surgeries, through my treatments, he has definitely had to tend to a lot more things than what he ever had before. Not only is he out there being the breadwinner, but he's being the homemaker as well. He cooks, he cleans, he has this sense of pride that 'I'm going to take care of everything and I will and you're not to worry about anything.'"

She said he sleeps only four hours each night and is wearing himself out. But Erica believes her husband has been the key to her recovery.

"My outcome and my results of my cancer wouldn't be the same if I didn't have Steve," she said. "He's my comfort, he's my security, he's my safety when chemo and surgeries are tearing my world apart."

She wrote to The Early Show, hoping to be able to pay back her husband for all that he has done for her while she battled breast cancer. She wrote that Steve allows himself one small indulgence — he loves the NFL's Denver Broncos.

"Steve is by far one of the biggest Bronco fans that I know," Erica said. "A few things that he's got is of course he's got the Broncos jersey. And the biggest and most important piece is the No. 7, which is (retired quarterback John) Elway's number … I can see the pure enjoyment that he gets from following the game and following the team."

Erica wrote that she was looking for a way to show Steve that she recognizes all he did for her through all her surgeries and treatments.

"I recognized every single moment and every single second and every single conversation that we've had through all this. Because I'm not sure; and he would probably say he knows, but I don't know if he really does know."

When the couple arrived at The Early Show, Steve was presented with a gift basket full of Broncos paraphernalia, including mugs, a parka, a football and a helmet-shaped chips-and-dip holder. Most important, The Early Show is flying Steve and Erica to Denver for the Dec. 31 game against the San Francisco 49ers. They will also spend three nights in the St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Denver, where they will be provided with free spa treatments and dinner.

Orbitz.com is providing air travel to Denver.

[stezzer]

What a wonderful, moving story. CBS your the best.

[tatehill-2009]

I thank John Elway for taking time to make this fans day!