MONTICELLO, Fla. (WTXL) - A wife and mother who won the hearts of many viewers has lost her battle with brain cancer -- four months after her biggest bucket list wish came true.
WTXL shared Amanda Vickers' courageous fight with Stage 4 brain cancer in February. Thanks to viewers, her wish to hear from her favorite person in the world came true.
"It would mean so much to me if he could be on my bucket list before I cross over," Vickers told WTXL in February.
Having a bucket list at the age of 42 wasn't what Vickers had in mind. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015 that moved to stage 4 last summer.
"I feel like God has led me this way and has been preparing me for this," Vickers said.
Knowing time was limited, her biggest wish was to meet Tim Tebow, admiring his athletic success and faith in God.
"I just don't think there's probably a better person on this earth," Vickers said.
WTXL's report was shared by thousands across the country, reaching Tebow in less than 24 hours. The professional football-turned-baseball player was in Arizona at the time for spring training -- but called Vickers after hearing about her story.
"In the highs and the lows, in all those times, we know that God is with you, and He loves you so, so dearly," Tebow told Vickers over the phone. "He's going through everything with you, too."
"Someone as small as me affected someone as great as him -- that he felt the need to reach out that quickly," Vickers told WTXL the day after the call. "Undescribable. A day I'll never forget."
Vickers battled with cancer for four more months after the report.
"It takes something like this for you to realize what a remarkable place that we live," Vickers said.
WTXL reached out to the Tim Tebow Foundation, which has learned of Amanda's passing. Her family and friends say it would be great for Tebow to speak at her funeral next week.
