Mary Axthelm was 36 in 2006 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 44 in 2016 when she was diagnosed a second time.
The there came genetic testing and a positive BRCA gene test, followed by 14 surgeries. And that wasn’t the end of what’s been a long and complicated health journey for Axthelm.
“In addition to the cancer journey, I was diagnosed in 2017 with a brain tumor and underwent surgery, where the anesthesiologist made an error that they believed at the time would result in full kidney failure and a lifetime of dialysis,” she said. “I am incredibly blessed that my body miraculously processed the wrong medication and my kidneys did not fail.”
After years of undergoing what can only be described as a harrowing health battle, the Riverton, Wyoming, resident got a touching letter in 2021 recognizing her struggle that left her stunned.
‘This Amazing Gift’
Dreams in Motion, a nonprofit that honors people who have been through, or are going through, intense health journeys by giving them special sporting event experiences.
Hers was an invitation to attend an NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
“It was such an honor to be the first Wyoming woman awarded this amazing gift,” she said. “I was overcome with so many emotions listening to them first chronologically list my health journey and then share the gift of a first-class sporting event to see the Baltimore Ravens play the Denver Broncos.”
In addition to tickets to the game, Dreams in Motion also gave an authentic Lamar Jackson game-day jersey.
Axthelm describes herself as a "player" fan, not necessarily a team fan, and said she’s always loved Jackson's explosive style of play, along with that of rookie Zay Flowers, Dalvin Cook and Justin Tucker.
On Oct. 3, 2021, Axthelm and her husband Mike attended the game, which the Ravens won 23-7.
“The game was such an incredible experience,” she said. “Not only did I have the only authentic, game-day jersey in the stands, but we were only eight rows up and behind the Raven's bench.
“It was an absolute blast to watch the sideline, to see John Harbaugh and watch Justin Tucker warm up. We felt like we were part of the team. And the Raven's won the game, so that made it over-the-top cool!”
This is exactly what Dreams in Motion founder Bruce Tippets, who grew up in Riverton and now lives in Utah, loves to hear.
An avid sports fan, he also has had his fair share of health challenges that includes a kidney transplant five years ago. He wanted to give back to those who’ve had similar experiences.
“I love to see them enjoying these events the way I’ve gotten to enjoy them my whole life,” Tippets said. “For a little while they don't have to worry about anything.”
Mary Axthelm of Riverton was honored in October 2021 when the Baltimore Ravens played the Denver Broncos. Her seats were eight rows behind the Ravens sideline. (Courtesy Photo) 
Mary Axthelm of Riverton attended the game with her husband Mike. (Courtesy Photo) 
Mary Axthelm of Riverton was one of the first people honored by Dreams in Motion. She is pictured in her authentic game-day jersey. (Courtesy Photo)
Failing Health
It has been a long haul for Tippets to reach this point. In 2009, he was working as sports editor for the Riverton Ranger newspaper when his health took a turn and he had to be life-flighted to the University of Utah, where doctors placed him in an induced coma for 10 days while they determined what was wrong.
“When I woke up, I had no idea where I was,” he said. “My mom had to explain everything to me.”
Diabetes and high blood pressure caused his health to deteriorate, and Tippets spent a month and a half in Utah recovering. He also had to start dialysis because his kidneys weren’t working properly. Dialysis helps remove waste and extra fluids to prevent them from building up in the body, while also helping to maintain safe levels of minerals in the blood like potassium, sodium and calcium.
“I had no idea what [dialysis] meant, so the first night when I woke up and it was happening it was the scariest night of my life,” he said.
Tippets gradually began to improve and returned home just before Thanksgiving. He had to begin doing four-hour dialysis treatments in Fort Washakie 31 miles away three times a week. It was difficult, but then two months later his kidneys began working again.
“My family, friends and church members were all praying for me, and my kidneys started working out of the blue two months after I got home,” he said.
Not So Fast …
Tippets returned to work and life got back to normal, but his kidney function gradually began to decline, and he again had to be life-flighted to Utah in 2014.
After a three-day stay, it was determined he needed to restart dialysis. That meant another three days a week from 5:45-10 a.m. in Fort Washakie. Then he had to get back to work, often not getting done until 11 p.m. after covering sporting events.
A year of that schedule became too much.
“I had extremely long hours on top of the dialysis, and I started to get really tired,” he said. “It became an impossible thing to do.”
So he and his wife Stephanie made the decision to move, eventually deciding on Vernal, Utah, where he now works as a sports reporter.
“My wife does not like big cities, and she has the real job as an elementary teacher and she picked Utah,” he said. “The dialysis center was five minutes from my house, and they took really good care of me.”
Tippets had to undergo three more years of dialysis before he was able to get his name on the transplant list. He couldn’t be approved until he lost about 30 pounds, along with getting a great deal of dental work done. Both his weight and his teeth are issues Tippets has long struggled with, he said.
Good dental care is important for people with kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Dental cavities and gum diseases are chronic bacterial infections that can fuel harmful chronic inflammation. Also, germs that cause cavities and gum disease don’t stay put and may spread throughout the body, especially if your immune system is weak.
A Transplant
His name was finally added in early 2018 and about six months later on Oct. 18, 2018, Tippets got the call that would change his life.
“That was the first and only time I didn't have to be life flighted to the hospital,” he joked. “It was a great call.”
After a month of recovery and rehab he returned home and said his life is 100% better than it was before his transplant, although he still has some bad days. He returned to work and also began working with the National Kidney Foundation as part of the advocacy committee.
Bryson Quinney of Lyman was the first Hero for Dreams in Motion. Quinney had a heart transplant in 2020 and attended a Utah Jazz game in February 2021. (Courtesy Photo) 
reams in Motion honored Michelle Turner of Cheyenne during the Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks game in March 2023. Turner received a kidney transplant and is now a dialysis nurse. (Courtesy Photo) 
Dreams in Motion honored Lance Beckert, right, of Utah in July 2023 when the Yankees played the Angels in California. He is pictured with co-founders Joel Brown, left, and Bruce Tippets. (Courtesy Photo)
An Idea Is Formed
Tippets felt like he could still do more to give back, and in 2020 came up with an idea. A lifelong sports fan, he wanted other people who had undergone transplants and serious health challenges to be able to have the experiences he had growing up attending professional and college sporting events.
He brought the idea to his friend Joel Brown, whose wife is a cancer survivor, and the two formed a plan.
When longtime friend and current board member Cody Beers of Riverton first heard about the idea for Dreams in Motion, he was skeptical.
“I thought he was crazy because we're talking about the need to raise thousands of dollars,” Beers said.
Tippets was determined, though, and forged ahead. He wanted to include his new state and his home state, so he began asking different professionals in both Utah and Wyoming to be part of the board.
“He's one of my heroes and he's the ambassador of Dreams in Motion,” Beers said. “It’s just so outside of his comfort zone, but he excels when he's outside of his comfort zone. He has far exceeded my expectations and I think those of everyone that's involved with Dreams and Motion.”
The Drive
To raise money, the group has done various fundraisers in Utah and holds an annual golf tournament in Riverton, something Beers said has been well supported.
“The Riverton and Lander communities were very fond of Bruce when he lived here, and they stepped up in a big way to help get us off the ground,” he said. “And all the money goes back to the honorees for trips, food and tickets. It’s first-class. I mean, if we can get you in the first row, we will.”
The group’s first honoree, or hero, was Bryson Quinney of Lyman, who received a heart transplant in 2020 and is a huge sports fan, especially of the Utah Jazz.
“I saw his story and thought it was amazing,” Tippets said. “I thought, ‘He’s got to attend a Jazz game.’”
In the video of Quinney reading his letter about the game, he becomes so emotional that he asks his mom to finish it.
Seeing that emotion affirms what they’re about, Beers said. Quinney and his family attended the game between the Jazz and 76ers on Feb 16, 2021, with the Jazz winning 134-123.
“Bryson’s had a remarkable journey,” Beers said. “I’ve had the privilege of umpiring baseball with him and he’s such a nice young man.”
Across The Goal Line
Since then, the group has honored a handful of people across Wyoming, including from Afton, Cheyenne and Riverton, as well as some in Utah. Trips so far have included professional football, basketball and baseball games, the National Finals Rodeo and a college basketball tournament.
Having presented to several of the Wyoming heroes, Beers said it’s an emotional experience.
“They are people that have been to the lowest place in their lives, which is right there on death's doorstep and they've come through it all or are still fighting,” he said. “It’s really cool.”
And since her experience with Dreams in Motion, Axthelm has become a big supporter.
“Sporting events are such a high-energy, family friendly, fun way to escape the weary parts of a health battle,” she said. “I think what they are accomplishing is brilliant and I am excited to see all the various sporting events future heroes will experience.”
