Kelly Stafford praised her “Dream Team” of doctors at the University of Michigan with saving her hearing during a 12-hour surgery last month to remove a brain tumor.

In an Instragram update posted Tuesday, the wife of former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford says Dr. B. Gregory Thompson and his team exercised extreme caution and skill in preserving her facial and hearing function.

“His patience saved my hearing, as well as my face. You read right, he PRESERVED MY HEARING!” she wrote.

Stafford last month endured a 12-hour procedure to remove an acoustic neuroma. The surgery took longer than expected after her surgeon, Dr. Thompson, discovered an abnormal vein.

She suffered a setback that had her back in the hospital last week. Dr. Thompson checked in on her then, too.

Kelly and the Matthew Stafford have three daughters. They started dating at Georgia where she was a cheerleader and he was the star of the football team. They married in 2015. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft and has spent his entire career with the Lions.

Matthew Stafford has not commented on his wife’s health, but has taken part in Detroit’s offseason training program.

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