Matthew Stafford: What to Know About His Wife Kelly Hall's Health Struggles

When the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers faced off on Monday night to cap off week six, [...]

By John Newby

When the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers faced off on Monday night to cap off week six, there was an emphasis put on quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly. For many that don't follow the Motor City team, this was viewed as confusing due to a lack of knowledge about her recent health scare.

Facing brain cancer back in April, Kelly underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove a tumor on her cranial nerve. She initially discovered that there was an issue with her health when she experienced dizziness and had an examination. Getting checked out was what ultimately saved her life, which is something that Kelly wants other mothers to realize.

"If there's anything I want people to take away from my story, it's for mothers,'' she wrote for ESPN. "If you ever feel the slightest bit off, you need to take the time to get it checked out. You don't have to put everything on your back. Sometimes, you need to take some time to make sure you are OK."

Obviously, the surgery to remove the tumor is something that everyone is aware of, but what about the other parts of the process? What else did Kelly Stafford have to deal with during her surgery and recovery? The road to recovery was long and full of frustrating and emotional moments.

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When Kelly underwent surgery to remove the tumor, the doctors discovered that there was another issue that could have had a lasting effect on her life. Dr. B. Gregory Thompson discovered an anomalous artery that lengthened the time in surgery and nearly caused Kelly to lose her hearing.

However, Dr. Thompson utilized patience during the procedure, at which point the audio wave did ultimately return. He and the surgical team were able to proceed and save Kelly's life.

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A little update: I thought I could do it. They told me tapering off the steroids was going to be very difficult. The first picture was yesterday when I was on what I thought was my last day of steroids. I thought I could power through the pain and massive headaches that were challenging me throughout the day. I figured i could pull my strength from one of the strongest people I know, matthew. I told myself the pain would succumb to me, I wouldn’t succumb to it. I was so wrong. The pain got so far ahead of me I couldn’t keep anything down, including meds. I ended up in the ER very early this morning, back on steroids and pain medication. At first, I felt like I had failed, like I couldn’t handle it.. but what I really failed at was listening to my own body. A lesson I feel like I am going to have to keep reminding myself of. Thank you again for everything. I just wanted to give a little update. They will keep me here overnight just to monitor in hopes of going home in the morning.

A post shared by Kelly Stafford (@kbstafford89) on

Another difficult lesson that Kelly had to learn was to keep trusting her body. Having herself checked out after experiencing dizziness and vertigo showed that there was a tumor on her cranial nerve, so it was critical to continue listening. However, there was a moment early in her recovery when Kelly tried to fight through the pain and was forced back into the emergency room.

As she explained on Instagram, she thought that she would defeat the pain from tapering off of the steroids. However, the pain and headaches proved to be too much. This felt like a failure at first, but Kelly later learned that it was far more more important to trust her body during this recovery process.

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As part of her recovery, Kelly had to relearn many motor skills. After working with a physical therapist, she was able to learn to walk once again. Although this was a long process that took considerable patience and mental fortitude. Additionally, she did not have the strength to lift her children upon seeing them for the first time after the procedure.

However, a breakthrough came in August when Kelly was able to begin boxing. As she explained, keeping up with the moving parts was mentally exhausting, but it served as a sign that she was well on the road to recovery.

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Part of the recovery process is being able to make public appearances, and Kelly had a very specific goal in mind. She wanted to be present for a wedding for some close friends. Achieving this would not be easy, but she ultimately fought through and arrived for the ceremony.

Kelly did later admit that recovering from the weekend was a struggle. Although she said that making it to the ceremony was totally worth it.

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I’d be lying if I told you it was easy to show you these photos. Here is the reality. This was me a few weeks before my surgery..these pics go back and forth from before the surgery to me at the wedding two weeks ago. I have weakness on my right side.. might look slight to others, but it’s very noticeable to me. I have to wait 6 -12 months to know whether this will be permanent or not. This is a VERY GOOD result from surgery.. it’s just a “slight difference” in a face you’ve been staring at for 29 years can be a big difference to you. I wish I could tell you it didn’t bother me, that I haven’t cried about it.. But I want to be transparent and truthful about this entire process, the good and the bad.. and to be honest I’m extremely, EXTREMELY insecure about this. I see it in my eyes and in my smile. Every time I laugh I cover my mouth because that’s when it’s most noticeable.. that’s when I’m most vulnerable. Although the difference is slight, it changed my smile. I feel the weakness when I pucker to kiss my husband and when I try to make kissy noises to my girls. My right eye doesn’t close all the way and therefore, I have learned how irritating a dry eye can be and how important it is to carry eye drops in every purse.. If this is permanent, i know eventually I will be ok with it. I may sound superficial with this post and dont get me wrong, I am so grateful that I am here and healing.. but I want to be upfront and honest. For anyone going through any type of facial weakness, just know you are not alone and if I find anything that helps, I will for sure share. *On another note, my balance is improving every day and my good days are greatly outnumbering my bad. Im getting back into my routine and it feels so good. I’m beyond thankful for that and in the end, I know getting back to myself on the inside is all that really matters.

A post shared by Kelly Stafford (@kbstafford89) on

Kelly Stafford may look fully recovered to outsiders, but she revealed in a post on Instagram that there are parts of her life that she is adjusting to. For example, her right eye does not entirely close, which has created the effect of a permanent dry eye. Helping reduce the irritation is a simple matter of bringing eye drops with her wherever she goes.

The bigger issue, which has been a source of insecurity for her, is that there is weakness in the right side of her face. She had had to change the way she smiles and that it affects how she kisses her husband, Matthew.

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Over the summer, the Staffords were able to enjoy some time together as Kelly continued to recover from the 12-hour surgery. They headed to the OC Fair and enjoyed the sunshine, the rides, and the treats available. Although taking in the amusements was still an experience for Kelly.

As she explained in previous posts, learning to box again after her procedure was difficult due to comprehending the movements and the quick pace. Riding on rollercoasters would be similarly exhausting, which made everything seem far more intense to her.

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Not the outcome we wanted, but we sure had fun supporting our men. Love these women! #GoLions #detroitvseverybody

A post shared by Kelly Stafford (@kbstafford89) on

When the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers faced off during that controversial Monday night game, many people around the country were introduced to Kelly Stafford. Little did they know that her simply being at Lambeau Field for the game was another sign of her continued recovery from what could have been a devastating tumor.

However, the surgery was a success, and Kelly has since relished the past six months with her husband and children. Losing to the Packers may not have been ideal, but she was simply happy to be present to support her husband. Her standing on the sidelines was a major change from being stuck in the ER following issues as she tapered off the medically-provided steroids.

(Photo Credit: Isaac Brekken/WireImage/Getty)

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