Debra Wagner, Breast Cancer Survivor, becomes Bodybuilding Champion

I started bodybuilding to prove I could be as good or better than any woman! I was 25 years old, married with 3 small children (Ages 9, 7, 3) when I had my double mastectomy. I had major complications and was in a coma for 4 days. It took 5 surgeries in 1 year and all I was left with was 2 scarred mounds that had no feeling. My husband told me, I was a freak, not a woman. I was devastated and I knew he meant it; because he wouldn’t help in anyway. My 9 year old daughter took care of me. I was an Aerobics and Fitness instructor so after the mastectomy I was 100% dependent on him because I couldn’t work.

Once I was able to work 30 hours a week I moved out and took the kids. Being on my own with 3 small children was tougher than I thought. After a few months, I started thinking my ex-husband was right. No man would want to have a relationship with me. (No one wants a disfigured women with 3 small children.) I gained 30lbs not being to able to exercise for a few months and I felt like a damaged Pillsbury Doughboy. I was overcome with the thought of suicide and started thinking the kids would be better off with their father.

“Survivor-mode” kicked in. I couldn’t I leave my children. I wasn’t a quitter –  just the opposite! I broke all records for physical fitness testing and I was a full time fitness instructor. I’d been intrigued by female bodybuilders because my now, X-husband used to be really into bodybuilding. I picked up a Muscle and Fitness magazine and thought, I can look that good. I could look better than they did!

I decided to become a bodybuilder. Much to my doctors’ amazement, I began working out and was stronger than they thought possible. Four months, later I entered my 1st body building show. I was shocked when I won 1st place in the light weight class and stunned when I won the overall title Ms. Southern Arizona!

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