Family life
Deanna was adopted by Kerry Tynes when he married Deanna's mother, Ann. Deanna has a sister, Christie, and a brother, Casey. She and Favre met while growing up in Kiln. 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 on a basketball scholarship, subsequently transferring to the University of Southern Mississippi to finish her degree.
At age 20, Deanna became pregnant and gave birth to Favre's daughter, Brittany Nicole, on February 6, 1989. As a single mother, she put herself through college while working various jobs, including working for a collection agency. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in December 1994 with a degree in exercise science.
She 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."Deanna said she considered leaving Favre but worried that his addiction might become worse if she left. Favre, with Deanna at his side, publicly announced his addiction on May 14, 1996. 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 June 14, 1996, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Green Bay.
In 1999, the couple became estranged over Brett Favre's drinking problem. She packed his bags and had them sitting in the courtyard, and told him "I'm done." She called Brett's agent, and told him to come pick up Brett or she was going to call 911. After the incident, he entered rehab for a second time and reportedly has not had a drink since.
Deanna later described her relationship with her husband 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 ... Our relationship has gotten to a much stronger point, a deeper love; we have so much respect and love for each other", she said in an interview. Deanna and Favre's second daughter, Breleigh Ann, was born on July 13, 1999.
On April 2, 2010, Brittany Favre gave birth to a boy, Parker Brett, making Deanna and Brett grandparents. During the football season, Brett, Deanna and their younger daughter live in in Minnesota. Brittany Favre has a permanent home in Mississippi; she attends the College of Charleston. During the off-season the family lives together in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Casey Tynes
On October 6, 2004, Deanna's 24-year-old brother, Casey Tynes, was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident on the Favres' Mississippi property. Eight days later, Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Hurricane Katrina
Deanna and Favre, second and third from left, attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony with First Lady Laura Bush in Kiln, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina
In late August 2005, the Favre home in Hattiesburg was damaged by Hurricane Katrina, though no family members were injured. The couple housed 50 family members in their home during Hurricane Katrina.
Breast cancer patient/activist
Deanna Favre made headlines in October 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. As she underwent treatment, she began receiving letters from women throughout the country relating how they were motivated to get breast examinations after hearing her story. Following a lumpectomy and five months of chemotherapy, she made 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. The experience has brought her closer to her husband and her faith. The Favres are members of St. Agnes Parish in Green Bay and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hattiesburg. In 2005, she 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.
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. The foundation has raised around $500,000 as of October 2007. Before starting her own foundation, Deanna ran the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, which has raised more than $3 million for disadvantaged or disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi.
Books
Don't bet against me (October 1, 2007; Tyndale House Publishers; ISBN 978-1414319070) Favre's autobiography.
The Cure of the Chronic Life: Overcoming the Hopelessness That Holds You Back (co-authored with Shane Stanford)
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