Super Bowl Dream Comes True For Colon Cancer Patient
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's the dream of a lifetime for Paula Smith – the chance to see her beloved Steelers play in the Super Bowl.
Suffering from inoperable colon cancer and already having outlived her doctors' predictions of survival, Paula made a wish after the Steelers won the AFC Championship.
"You only live once. Make your dream come true -- live life to the fullest and I said, 'Oh I want to go to the Super Bowl so bad,'" Paula said.
Her cadre of loyal friends led by Audrey Antoski went into action, hopping on the phone and clouded the internet with emails.
Paula said a prayer.
"You know, who knows how long I'll be here, and I said, 'It's going to be in God's hands. Send out the prayers everybody and hopefully I can get tickets to go,'" she said.
An angel responded in the form of a linebacker – former Penn Stater and Dallas Cowboy standout Sean Lee came up with a pair of tickets and an Arlington Hotel comped her a room.
Others chipped in for the plane tickets and Paula is set to go.
"I can't wait to get there," she said. "It's just going to be awesome."
The fact the game is against the Packers makes it even more special. Paula went to Bishop Boyle High School with Packers coach Mike McCarthy. It's an enduring friendship, but not quite strong enough to make her switch allegiances.
"I like Mike, but the Steelers come first," she said.
