Theresa "Tess" Dawson has been fighting metastatic breast cancer for nearly 7 years. Over the course of the last month, new lesions were found in her skull, which have resulted in double vision, facial paralysis, and debilitating headaches. Every day however, Tess's love for her family and friends drives her to get out of bed and fight. Tess is in pain nearly every minute of every day, as the cancer has also spread to her spine, shoulder blade, and ribs. The doctors are recommending hospice care; however, that comes with its own unique set of challenges. Tess has been in the ER or hospitalized well over 125 times in the last 10 years due to cancer-related illnesses, kidney infections, or UTIs. She's been in the hospital at least 20 times this year alone. She has now acquired ESBL, which causes her infections to be extremely resistant to antibiotics. To this end, Tess would not be able to go into hospice while continuing to be hospitalized for infections.

Let me tell you a little about Tess. She is 63 years old and fighting like heck to see her 64th birthday in February. She spent her career working in the food industry as a manager and eventually a restaurant inspector. Tess has let struggling employees share her residence; she quite literally gave up her car and house to individuals in need. She would give her last dime to any stranger who asked. The impact she's had on my life is extraordinary. Where I once struggled to maintain an even keel, she brought a calm peacefulness into my life. She showed me what unconditional love truly was. She has been my supporter and mentor, my solace when it felt like all was lost. She truly changed my life for the better.

Tess loves animals, especially her dog Daisy, and her 3 cats, Riley, Nica, and Bailey. She'll watch any baseball game that is on TV but is passionate about the Cincinnati Reds. She adores Peyton Manning but roots for the Cincinnati Bengals when she watches football. She is quiet and unassuming, and even though she's sick, she wants to put others' needs before her own. Tess is one of the kindest people you'll ever meet. She enjoys taking care of others, even as she needs more care herself. Tess used to be independent, a self-described loner, but over the last years, she has learned to lean on friends and family.

These days Tess naps a lot, as a simple trip to the grocery store will wear her out. She needs assistance while walking and oftentimes has a difficult time articulating her thoughts. There have been many trips to the hospital after she's awoken running a high fever and cannot speak or answer basic questions. She has been hospitalized with sepsis three times in the last year. Over the last 6 months, she has averaged being hospitalized every 3 weeks. This is actually the 3rd time Tess is fighting cancer.

Recently, Tess has talked about fulfilling some items on her bucket list. She knows her time with loved ones has been cut dramatically short, so the time to live, not just exist, is now.

Some items on her wishlist are as follows. She'd love to visit Washington, D.C., especially the Smithsonian Institution. She would like to go back to Niagara Falls. She's asking to go to Godfather's Pizza, a restaurant she frequented in her childhood. She would love to go back and spend a weekend in Hocking Hills, in Logan, Ohio. We also plan to visit the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Last month, through the generosity of Jordan Maki, Tess checked off an item on her bucket list when she was given tickets to see her beloved Cincinnati Reds play one last time.

We are setting up this GoFundMe page in hopes that people will donate $5 or $10 to help defray the cost of some items on her wishlist. $50 will cover her ticket to the Hall of Fame. $175 will cover the cost of staying in a hotel for 2 nights if she can make it to Washington, D.C. Staying in a cabin at Hocking Hills would be around $500.

Through the generosity of Kim and Jen, Tess has been able to travel to Arizona to see baseball games, a soccer game, she saw the Phoenix Mercury play, went to Las Vegas, and last but not least, she visited the Grand Canyon. Kim and Jen's generosity has given Tess hope, things to look forward to, and memories she will cherish. In this last chapter of her life, we'd like visiting D.C. to be a reality. I'd love to spend one more weekend with her, tucked away in the woods of Hocking Hills. I will push her in her wheelchair throughout the Football Hall of Fame so she can see her favorite players (hello Peyton Manning). More than anything, I want to see that wide-eyed grin she gets when her dreams become reality.

Any extra donations will help defray the cost of items that her insurance doesn't cover (shower chair, grab bars, mobile scooter, etc).

We understand that you might not want to donate monetarily, so in lieu of that, we just ask for your prayers of comfort.

#cincinnatireds

#peytonmanning