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Kriste Lewis is a 40-year-old dance instructor from Mississippi with a polycystic kidney disease but that didn't stop her from achieving her dream of becoming a cheerleader.

Lewis' lifelong dream is to try out for the New Orleans Saints, a professional football team in the National Football League (NFL). She not only tried out for the team, she actually became one of the 36 newest members of the cheerleading squad, making her the oldest cheerleader in the squad's history.

Lewis is a dance-fitness instructor and hasn't done any high kicks and splits in years. She lives with her husband and two sons aged 14 and 11 at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, about 100 miles northeast of New Orleans.

She went to New Orleans in April and competed against 18 to 30-year-old women for a vigorous three-round tryout to land a spot in the Saintsations team. The tryouts require a high level of athleticism.

Tuesday, at the "Good Morning America" show, she said that there are a lot of young and beautiful girls and she fears them.

Fourteen years ago, Lewis was diagnosed with a polycystic kidney disease and that later she will be required for dialysis and eventually a new liver. She said it seems to run in the family for several family members have died from the disease and her mother already had two failed kidney transplants.

That's when this mother of two decided to go after her dreams. "That had a lot to do with me auditioning as well. I didn't want to waste a day," said Lewis.

Lesslee Fitzmorris, director of the Saintsations squad since 2001, said that the judges have no idea on the ages of the women until after three rounds of cut, and finally revealing their ages in the interview round.

Lewis is now practicing every day along with the full support of her husband and two sons. She will make her first appearance at the field during the New Orleans Saints exhibition game against the Tennessee Titans on August 15 at the Superdome.

"I'm especially proud that she made it, and she's the best mom a child could have," said Lews' 11-year-old son Rob.

TagsNew Orleans Saints, good morning america, Kriste Lewis, New Orleans Saints cheerleader, Saintsations