Matthew Stafford spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since his wife, Kelly, underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor on her cranial nerves, and he said she’s doing well. Speaking with WJR-AM (760) in Detroit, he said, “I think she’s kind of right where the doctors want her to be at this point in her recovery, but we appreciate everybody’s well wishes, thoughts, prayers, all that. People have been really supportive and I know she and I both really appreciate it.”

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Kelly originally announced her diagnosis April 3 on Instagram, and posted another update Easter weekend saying that everyone’s prayers “have worked.”

“This Easter is the beginning of a new life for me,” she wrote. “I wanna take a second to thank all of you for all the prayers. They have worked. I know they have. When they opened me up, I had an abnormal vein … maybe abnormal for other neurosurgeons, but not the one We chose. He had seen it before and written a paper on it. That’s truly God’s work.”

They chose Dr. B. Gregory Thompson from the University of Michigan, and Kelly has credited him for saving her hearing and facial function. She is still recovering at home, while Matthew has rejoined the Lions for most of the team’s offseason work.

“I’m a little bit more used to people from all over kind of either being involved or knowing what’s going on in our life, but I think for her it was awesome and I know she leaned on it a lot, so it was great,” Matthew told WJR-AM.

Matthew also said, “It’s great to be back, working with the guys,” but he has been a steady presence for his family. In another Instagram post Thursday, Kelly said Matthew has been “my rock through this entire thing.” She noted that she loves having her head massaged and Matthew, among other things, has done that for his wife every single night.

“Thank you Matthew,” Kelly wrote. “Thank you for taking care of me and our family and always putting us first. Thank you for always being my rock and keeping me at ease during the toughest time of my life. I’m lucky to know you and the man you are. But mostly, I’m lucky you chose me to do life with. Thank you.”

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