Peyton Manning Dials Up Pasadena ISD Teacher Battling Cancer

PASADENA, TX -- A Pasadena ISD elementary school teacher who is battling cancer received some of the best therapy in the world, when retired Denver Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning called her Monday to inspire her to keep fighting and have faith.

It was an unexpected surprise for Teague Elementary teacher Rhonda Jacobs, who has followed Manning's career since his days at the University of Tennessee.

“When I am at M.D. Anderson for treatments, I put on my earbuds and listen to Peyton Manning talk during press conferences,” Jacobs said in a press release. “His voice calms me down.”

On Monday afternoon, Jacobs was in her car, when her cellphone rang.

The number simply said "unknown," and she picked it up.

“I answered the phone and the person on the other line said, ‘This is Peyton Manning.’ I was speechless.”

At first, she was skeptical, but the more he spoke, the more she realized it was that same soothing voice, that helped her through her treatments at M.D. Anderson.

Manning reached out to Jacobs after learning that she was diagnosed with cancer from her colleague Nikki Seymour, Teague school nurse.

Seymour contacted Manning’s PeyBack Foundation, which typically provides support for at-risk children.

Seymour wrote the organization and explained the circumstances of Jacobs' illness, and that the teacher was a fan of Manning's.

"Within 30 minutes, his agent, who works side-by side with Peyton called me,” Seymour said. “Peyton wanted to do something special for Rhonda."

Jacobs and Manning spoke for just five minutes, and all the while, he encouraged her to remain strong in her faith and that he would also be praying for her as she continues her treatment.

Jacobs still has a long way to go -- 16 more months of chemotherapy -- but she feels like that with friends, family and Peyton Manning praying for her, she'll be just fine.

Image: Jeffrey Beall via Flickr