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And word spread. The tennis community got involved.
Pete Sampras still donates money each time he hits an ace.
Pam Shriver, Gabriela Sabatini, Monica Seles, Lindsay
Davenport, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier have sponsored
kids.
Jaeger cold-called wealthy people profiled in Forbes
magazine. She approached Madonna in a restaurant and
nervously told her about the Silver Lining Ranch. A few weeks
later, Madonna's check arrived. Kevin Costner and Cindy
Crawford have been ardent supporters. The work isn't done.
Next project: A $30 million endowment.
More than 400 kids have visited Jaeger's ranch. One of
the first was Rhea Olsen of Chicago. She worked late hours at
a grocery store because she needed gas money for
transportation to chemotherapy treatments. Eventually, she
joined Jaeger's staff and designed the organization newsletter.
In Aspen, Olsen would look for shooting stars, the ones
she never seemed to spot in Chicago. Near the end, she cried
and told Jaeger her life would be forgotten. Jaeger vowed that
wouldn't happen. When the Silver Lining Ranch opened last
year, people were struck by the main building's tower. It's
called Rhea's Tower because itıs the one closest to the stars.
Of course, there are funerals and sadness. Jaeger and
her staff wonıt focus on that. Instead, they'll think about
Tampa's Cherish Lopez, who was diagnosed with
rhabdomyosarcoma, a highly malignant soft-tissue cancer, at
age 12.
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She was given four months to live, but held on to her
dream of working with animals. Last year, she graduated from
the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in
biology. She works in zoo education and conservation at
Busch Gardens.
THEY'LL THINK ABOUT Jackie Diaz, who had cancer of
the lymph nodes at age 16. She dropped out of high school,
then briefly withdrew from life. Her mother was told Jackie
would live another few days, maybe a week.
A few years ago, Jaeger received a wedding invitation
from Jackie Diaz. Now Diaz is 24, living in La Puente, Calif.,
with a husband and three children. "They had to force me to go
to Andrea in Aspen," Diaz said. "I didn't want to talk to anybody
or see anybody. But that week helped me open up. I came out
of my shell. It was one of my best weeks ever. It taught me I
was worth something, too. It brought me back to life."
Sometimes, Jaeger wonders about her life's direction.
What is her shoulder had stayed healthy? What if she could go
back, maybe make a run at No. 1, maybe win Wimbledon this
time? Would she leave Aspen for another shot at the glory?
Would she run from the occasional tears and return to the
stadium cheers? Would she give it all up?
Her answer never wavers.
"Of course not," she said. "Of course not. This is what
I'm doing for the rest of my life."
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Dear Andrea Jaeger,
My daughter has endured two very extensive surgeries, four minor surgeries and months of chemotherapy. An incredible team of doctors was able to save her right leg. She recently enjoyed a weekend at your ranch. Picking her up at the airport, I witneseed that light in her eyes that was taken away for so many months. Of course we missed our little girl, but a different one came back. What this did for her self-esteem and spirit that was lost, I can't even begin to describe.
Sincerely,
Anni Cusack
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