‘We Won The Game, But My Mom Won Too’: How NFL Superstar Tom Brady Supported His Mother Through Cancer Treatments and Won the Super Bowl

The 2016 season emerged from the fog of the 2015 Deflategate scandal, in which Brady was accused of cheating by deliberately deflating footballs he used on the field. It was a trying time for his whole family, and it coincided with Brady's mother's cancer diagnosis. "My mom was about ready to start chemotherapy," he said. "I think, personally, it was very difficult for her to see her son kind of raked through the coals like I was, so we all wanted to really support her."

In the new Man in the Arena episode, Tom's sister Nancy talked about the way her mother's cancer diagnosis changed her perspective, and how hard it was to truly come to terms with the news. "I don't know if you ever think about your parents, who, you know, are invincible, having to face a potentially terminal disease," she said. And each of the Brady children handled the news differently. "I tried to remain poised," Tom said. "Maybe it's a little bit of the toughening up I've had. Or maybe I'm not the most empathetic or sympatheticI'm trying to solve it, you know. 'Hey mom, come on, this is what we need to do. We need to send you to this person, and to this person. We're gonna fix this.’"

When someone you love is facing cancer, the most important thing is to be patient.

Because of the Deflategate controversy, Brady was suspended from the first four games of the season. Ultimately, Brady's suspension helped the superstar quarterback see the importance of prioritizing his personal life. "I was reflecting and having some perspective on the situation and realizing that this is what matters mostbeing with my family at a very vulnerable time," he said. He chose to think of his time away from the football field as an opportunity to be there for his mother and his family. "I was gonna do my best to forget about football for a little bit and catch up on some other aspects of my life."

Back on the Field

When Brady finished his suspension, he knew that the 2016 season was going be different. His parents were heartbroken that they couldn't attend his games, but they supported him from afar. "They always watched. They'd sit next to each other, hold hands. They'd pray. They'd do their little routine that they do," said Tom's sister Maureen. Tom had his eyes on the prize, and he told his parents not to worry. "You'll be at the Super Bowl, so just get through all your treatments," he said.

Actor Patrick Dempseys mother battled ovarian cancer for 17 years. He offers advice to those who find themselves in the caregiver role for a loved one with cancer — make sure you’re taking care of yourself, too.

His confidence was validated when the Patriots won the chance to compete against the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl LI. Going into Super Bowl week, Galynn Brady had completed chemo, but she still didn't know if she would have the strength to make the game. In the end, she decided that she wasn't going to let cancer take this moment away from her. "Who would have ever known that would go down as the greatest Super Bowl ever played," Tom said.

In an unlikely and suspenseful comeback, the Patriots ultimately beat the Atlanta, 34 to 28. Reflecting on his mother's cancer battle and the perseverance she demonstrated, Tom Brady focused on the way the year's trials had brought his family closer. "You know, that year had its challenging aspects to it, and the way that it culminated was with us all being together," he said. "We won the game, but my mom won too. And my family won.”

Supporting Loved-Ones Through the Cancer Journey

When it comes to battling cancer, caregivers and support systems are critical, but often caregivers end up putting their own needs on the back burner. Caring for someone battling a disease and watching them struggle can take a severe physical and mental toll on the caregiver. It's important for caregivers to prioritize their needs while caring for others, and that's why these tips can make a difference.

1. Express Your Emotions

As a caregiver, it can be easy to assume you need to always be the shoulder to cry on. However, that doesn't mean you should bottle up your emotions. Expressing feelings and emotions is key in order to prioritize your mental health, and it's critical that caregivers do this too. Some common emotions caregivers may experience could include stress, fatigue, and burnout. So, in order to get these feelings off your chest, it's worth finding another individual to talk openly to and vent to when needed.

2. Find a Support Group

You're probably familiar with support groups to help people through cancer, but there are also resources for caregivers and loved ones also impacted by the disease. Connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can be extremely beneficial during difficult times, as it proves they're not alone during this journey. Furthermore, it allows the caregiver to speak openly about their experiences and be surrounded by others who can relate. If you're not comfortable with the idea of a group setting, therapy can also be a great option as it allows an intimate one-on-one conversation.

"It's a little harder with COVID-19 to get out, but there's a lot of opportunities for support virtually through educational resources, support communities," Julie Bulger, manager of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "You can talk to somebody. You can get therapy virtually now. Caregiving is the most important job, I think, in the universe, because you are there through the highs and lows."

3. Do Things You Enjoy

Being a caregiver can be extremely time consuming, and it's easy to spend all of your time dedicated to the individual you're helping. However, experts have said it's key that caregivers still take some time out of their day to do activities they enjoy in order for them to prioritize their mental health. This can be anything that brings you joy, whether it's watching a movie, going on a walk, or simply getting lunch with a friend. No matter what activity you choose, taking time for yourself can be a huge help in remaining positive.

"One of the things that is common for caregivers is that the roles really shift," Bulgar says. "The daily tasks, you are there picking up medication. You're there to prepare foods. You're there to go on doctor's visits with your loved one…but as people say, you can't care for others if you're not caring for yourself. So it is important to have some things that you can do that's kind of outside of the focus of caring for somebody that you love with cancer."

Cancer caregivers risk becoming overwhelmed and burned out by their new role if they don’t carve out time for themselves.

4. Take Care Of Yourself

In order to fully take care of someone, you need to feel your best. Feeling fatigued or stressed at times can lead to bigger issues that could impact you, and that's why it's so important to not only prioritize your mental health, but also your physical health as well. That's why, if you start to feel the physical toll of being a caregiver, it's so important to take some time to relax or even visit the doctor if things progress.

Furthermore, it can be extremely helpful to do things which help you feel good and increase your self-confidence. This can be getting a new haircut, putting on your favorite outfit, or even spending some time in a salon to get dolled up. Feeling good on the outside can tremendously help feeling good on the inside, and this lends itself as a helpful tool in being there for someone battling cancer.

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