Teacher, Cancer Patient Receives Call From Peyton Manning

PASADENA, Texas (CBS4) - Elementary school teacher Rhonda Jacobs was diagnosed with cancer in July.

Throughout her battle, she looked to former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for inspiration.

"When I am at M.D. Anderson for treatments, I put on my earbuds and listen to Peyton Manning talk during press conferences," Jacobs said. "His voice calms me down."

On Halloween Day, the Pasadena Independent School District says, as she was driving home, she received an unidentified call.

"I answered the phone and the person on the other line said, 'This is Peyton Manning.' I was speechless."

It was no trick, but instead a very memorable treat.

"I thought someone was playing a joke on me," Jacobs said. "After about two or three sentences, I knew that was his voice and I started freaking out. He did most of the talking and it was awesome."

Manning apparently reached out to Jacobs after learning she was diagnosed with cancer from her colleague, school nurse Nikki Seymour.

Seymour contacted Manning's PeyBack Foundation.

Manning spoke with Jacobs for about five minutes, offering her words of encouragement in her fight with cancer.

"He said there will be dark days and I told him that I have already experienced some of those, but he said you just have to go through adversity and keep your faith strong."

In addition to the call, Manning offered Jacobs something more.

"I explained to him that I have begun the first round of chemotherapy, and I have 16 more to go, but I've got this," she said. "I told him I have a lot of prayers coming my way. And then he told me, 'Well, I do know you have a lot of prayers. I've heard a lot of people are praying for you. I've been praying for you, so you can add me to your list because I've added you to mine.'"