A Dallas Cowboys fan who says the team's locker room speeches inspired her in her battle with cancer got a big surprise Friday: tickets to the team's playoff game against the Packers.
"It's like setting up a surprise party, that's the exciting part," said Matt Stamm, of Academy Sports & Outdoors, as he instructed staff how to greet their guest of honor Friday. "When she walks in we'll cheer and she'll freak out."
The moment Kandi Stewart walked into the Grapevine Academy Sports store, they cheered, she bowed and wondered what was happening.
"We'd like to know if you would like to accept these four tickets and a parking pass to this Sunday's game?" Stamm asked a stunned Stewart. "Yes! Yes, yes yes," she replied with tears in her eyes.
"It started with my fight. I just want to watch them finish their fight because I finished mine," Stewart said. "It's very emotional for me."
Stewart said Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett's locker room pep talks about "Finishing This Fight" helped inspire her to fight cancer. She's now in remission.
"Every morning is just like that blessing of just one more day," said Stewart's husband, Jonathan Stewart. "Everything that life throws at you, you can handle."
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Academy Sports saw Kandi Stewart's story featured on NBC 5 in November and was inspired to do something special. They gave the Stewarts four tickets to Sunday's playoff game, sitting at the 50-yard line, and a $200 gift certificate for Cowboys gear.
Kandi Stewart said she can't wait for Sunday's game.
"I want them to know I'm fighting for them," she said. "Just like they fought for me."
