Survival of the Fittest: Cancer Heroes (MuscleMag)

How musclebuilding helped two survivors
of physical GHSeS OVerGOme their hardships and
fulfill their competitive bodybuilding dreams
hen the average bodybuilder looks in
the mirror he usually sees a not-soperfect body with lots ofroom for
improvement. He is never satisfied with his
muscles and is often in the gym pumping
iron, browsing through supplement stores,
or flipping the pages ofphysique magazines
in search of inspiration. Well, here's the
answer to your prayers. We are proud to
introduce two bodybuilders who know
firsthand the sensation oflooking in the
mirror and feeling
as
if their dreams of
becoming pros have dwindled. With the help
of musclebuilding, friends and family,
Derrick Jones of Jackson, Mississippi and
Jeanne Marie Fisher of Lewiston, Idaho
have shengthened physically, mentally and
emotionally. They have overcome their fears
ofnever being able to step onstage again and
now lead successful lives as amateur bodybuilders after years ofphysical hardship and
near-death experiences.
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The unbelievable chronicle ofhow Jeanne,
.- 28,beat cancer started when she was a preteen. After playing soccer at school, the 12year-old was sruck by sl.rnptoms as she
walked home. By the time she got to her
horr. she was doubled over in !ain. rururing
a fever and could hardly breathe. Then the
i' pain shifted to one side. Her mother thought
it was appendicitis and immediately took
Jeanne to the doctor for a pelvic examina-
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108 MUSCLEMAG/APRIL
tion. He called in a gynecologist who
ultimately discovered she had a blockage of
her uterus. Jeanne hadn't been in surgery for
more than ten minutes when the doctor
wasn't gone completely. "I can remember
washing my hair and seeing it come out in
clumps in the shower. It was like a horror
came back out and had her mom sign some
more papers because they had found a tumor
about the size ofa "Texas cantaloupe" covering an ovary.
She couldn't go to the bathroom or eat.
She returned to intensive care for a fourmonth regimen of harsh treatments. Her
blood count was very low, her strength was
down because of all the transfusions, and
she was severely sick. She dropped to 79
pounds from 160 during the treatments and
received her last dose
two years later. Finally
all signs indicated that
the fumor was gone.
Her doctors called her
recovery nothing short
of a miracle.
Three weeks later she had another emergency operation at
Seattle University, and
afternumerous CAI
scans her doctor discovered that Jeanne's liver
was 95 percent covered
and the especially aggressive cancer had spread to
her liver, gall bladder and
lungs. She had ovarian
sarcoma - a cancer
mostly found in women in
their 40s nearing menopause. This time doctors
dislodged a tumor the size
ofabasketball and
performed a complete
hysterectomy. They did
one month of fulI
radiation. Finally, a few
months later, the tumor on
her liver shrank to the size
ofa silver dollar and
maintained that size, but it
movie," said Jeanne.
At 13 she started to
work out with her dad
at a loca1 g1,rn, Dave's
Physical Factory, as a
form ofphysical therapy. Throughout high
school she enjoyed
g1m class even though
at times, lacking full
flexibility in her limbs,
she was barely able to
walk. She wore leg
braces.
Stiil a very
self-conscious kid in
her sophomore year,
she joined a weighthaining class which
included powerlifting
competitions and
tests of max weight
lifted on squat, bench
How the
triumphant leanne
Iooks today.
and deadlift. Jeanne
trained hard to get
stronger, and the
workouts made her
more confident. She
met her fianc6, Keith,
at the gyrn shortly
after she began
training seriously. At
the time she rvas still involved in benchpress competitions but always wanted to
compete in bodybuilding. After attending
Lewis-C1ark State College and working as a
pharmacy technician for three years, Jeanne
got a job at Potlatch Corporation where she's
still employed as a safety coordinator.
Today Jeanne, 5'3 1 12', 148 pounds offseason. works out at 24-Hour Fitriess r,r.ith
her training partneq Janet Kaufman. rvho is
also a bodybuilder and NPC judge. Her first
bodybuilding compeiitioll \\.as the
1998 Rocky N{ountain State
Championships. She spent a r.r,hole
year trainine hard dieted for 1 6
weeks, and placed first in the
middleweight class. Precontest
Jeanne'nvorks out a couple ofhours
a da1. six dayr s
otherwise"
she's at the gym four days on and
one day off. ln September she
placed first at the Evergreen State
v..L
competition as a heaq.lveight, and
third in the NPC Northwest. a
national qualifier in Portland
Oregon. She also talks to
youngsters at local schools and
Richard Pryor
lends a hand.
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gives health and salety conlerences
on the importance of fitness and
nutrition and her life as a
bodvbuilder.
Jeanne's advice to cancer
patients and aspiring bodybuilders
is that you can do anything you set
your mind to. She believes in the
importance of always staying pos-
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itire because that': r,ihati going lo
get you though the hard times.
Jeanne would like to thank her
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family, f iends and Dr. Frank
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Reynolds for their continued
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suppoft.
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Ifyou d like to contact Jeanne
Marie Fislter write to her at PO.
Box 205, Lewiston, ID 83501, or
z-mail her at
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Having a ball with Michael Jordan at
Magic's all-star game in LA.
APRIL/MUSCLEMAG 109
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Receiving chemo through a
Hickman catheter, 1983.
miracle of inspiration is doing. Perhaps a
briefoverview ofthe article by Johnny
Fitness is necessary before the update.
In 1987 Derrick was a strong, athletic
125-pound 12-year-old. He lived for sports,
especially basketball and football. His brush
with death occurred in the backwoods outside Smithdale, Mississippi while he was
visiting relatives. One afternoon his Uncle
Isiha, whom he called Bubba, was to show
Derrick how to load timber, so offin the
truck they went. Derrick sat alone in the cab
behind the drone ofthe heavily breathing
V8, his legs astride three cans ofpaint that
Bubba had brought along to be used later. In
an instant both Derrick and the cans ofpaint
were on fire.
Amid shattering glass, burning twisting
plastic and flaming carpeting, a young boy's
flesh was melting. Isiha tried to pull the
boy's flailing arms
ii
and legs out from the
inferno, only to have
searing flesh come
away in his hands. The
intensity of the flames
was ferocious.
Suddenly Derrick was
out running - insane
with pain. Isiha flung
DEFE his
helpless son would ever speak, see or walk
again. He was not supposed to be alive, but
between his own grit and the influence ofhis
mother, Derrick hung on. For eight long
years he underwent major surgery and minor
skin grafts that could be counted in dozens.
Derrick's weight dropped to 65 pounds
after his accident. The fire had destroyed his
muscle, and his body was weak. Four years
later Earline discovered Derrick's big secret
- his love and desire for bodybuilding. He
had been secretly reading up on how to train
and what exercises he must do in order to
rebuild his emaciated body. He saved up all
his money to buy Acetabolan, Creatine
6000-ES, MESO-Tech, CELL-Tech and
Hydroxycut - MuscleTech products he'd
read about in the magazines. Soon the
garage became his gym. He began to
regenerate new muscle, gain weight and
become stronger.
Weight training
became another form
oftherapy and stress
ENSE
hours writing letters to
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leanne at her best - 128-pound
middleweight champion.
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Ever since we reported the unbelievable
back-from-death story of fire-ravaged
Derrickirt MMI issue 200. our office has
been inundated with letters, and the Derrick
Jones Burn Foundation has received generous donations. This month we bring you
an update on how bodybuilding's twice-born
110 MUSCLEMAG/APRIL
:.
and encouragement
for her son to keep
fighting for his life.
Comedian Sinbad was
tried so hard to
consume Derrick had
itselfbeen
extinguished. From
tr
':1
g.1i.
nephew, and man and
boy rolled on the earth
until the fire that had
o
Derrick's favorite
celebrities for support
rill
himself on his
)o
relief.
During this time
Earline spent long
one
ofthe first
celebrities to answer
that moment on
neither of their lives
would ever be the
same.
Less than
i5 minutes later Isiha arrived at
Smithdale's cottage hospital. There was
nothing the doctors or staffcould do to treat
him or ease the excruciating pain from
10,000 raw nerve ends that now 1ay bleeding
on the surface ofover 70 percent ofhis
body. Isiha was told that Derrick's only
chance was to get to the
nearest large hospital in
McComb, where facilities
could accommodate such lifethreatening burns. Now in an
extreme state of shock
Derrick shivered and shook
uncontrollably as he was
airlifted to the burn center in
Greenville. Three months
later Derrick was again
airlifted, but this time out of
Greenville's critical care
center, out of intensive care,
and out ofdanger.
For 14 weeks his mother
Earline's eyes were glued to
her son. Covered in dressings
but for his face, every part of
Derrick's body trembled. He couldn't speak
and could hardly breathe. His voice box and
both lungs had been badly scorched. No
doctor could tell Earline whether her
With Magic
Johnson in
the locker
room.
her p1ea.
Among
others were
Mike Tyson,
Eddie
Murphy,
Arsenio Ha1l,
Stevie
Wondeg
Magic
Johnson,
Michael
Jordan, Robin
Givens, and
the cast
of
Doctors daily
administered oil
under Derick's
flesh, which was
later cut away and
used to cover areas
of third-degree
burns that were
incapable of
healing.
TheYoung
and the Restless. Q,lote: Deruickwould like
to thank all the people mentioned above as
well as Big Bob, Patience Cleveland and, of
course, his momfor all their support and
love.)
Today Derrick, 24, is a senior at Millsaps
College in Jackson. Mississippi. majoring in
biology and organic chemistry. He plans to
attend occupational therapy graduate school
in May 2000. He wants to specialize in burn
care because he strongly believes that only
another bum victim can understand the
su{fering the victims of fire must go
through. Presently he speaks at schools on
burn prevention and counsels bum victims,
mainly children. Derrick also continues to
lift weights and is the first burn victim to
compete and win first place in the open
hearyweight division at the All-Natural
Dampier of the Golden State Warriors
basketball team
. autographed
framed j ersey of Walter
Payton former player ofthe Chicago Bears)
. autographed basketball ofMagic Johnson
(former player of the L4 Lakers)
. autographed basketball ofJerry West
(former player of the LA Lakers)
Mississippi Open Bodybuilding
Championships. "I worked hard to prove
myself. A lot of people were skeptical
about my win, but I know I won fair and
square. Some people said I won because
of my burns."
Derrick watches his diet all year long
and never gets over 225 pounds. He trains
five days a week and does cardio three
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Two most impodant treasures in
Derrick's life - mom Earline and his
bodybuilding trophy.
wfuet $ eee*d E+ Ee.='
days a week during the off-season.
During precontest he brings his cardio up
to five days a week. "Mea1 replacements
and fat-burners have really helped me
over the last year. No one can believe how
much I've changed physically.
Hydroxycut has certainly kept my weight
down. I want to thank the MuscleTech
stafffor their generosity." Derrick is now
training for the Southern Classic show,
which will be held in June 2000. "I really
want to place in a big show and continue to
practice what I preach to other bum victims
Some people are reluctant to train with me
because ofmy scars, but that's okay because
I work better by myself. I know what I need
to do."
The Derrick Jones Bum Foundation is a
nonprofit organization that helps lift financial hardship from burn victims and their
families. The second annual Celebrity
Sports MemorabiliaAuction held on October 2, 1999 raised $8,000 for the cause. In
attendance were Wi11ie Richardson of the
Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins, Nolan
Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs, and five
lbrmer players ofYesterday's Negro League
Baseball. A live auction olunique sporls
memorabilia was the highlight of the evening. The following items are still left for
purchase. Ifyou are interested, contact the
Derrick Jones Bum Foundation (address at
end
ofarticle):
. autographed tennis shoes
ofErick
with their families and friends and receive
donated gifts from the community. Derrick
will talk to the guests about how to handle
MuscleTech products have helped
Derrick overcome physical and
emotional setbacks.
. autographedjersey ofSan Francisco 49ers
, Mickey Mantle pin
. autographed o tbal I of Tony D ors ett
fo
(Dallas Cowboys)
. autographed bas eball of Robin Yount
(Milwaukee Brewers)
. 16 x 20 picture atrtographed ofTroy
Aihnan (quarterback Dallas Cowboys)
. autographed helmet oJ'Erumitt Smith
(Dallas Cowboys)
, autographed bat signed by l2 players of
Yerterday's Negro League Baseball players
By the time this article is in print the
Derrick Jones Burn Foundation will have
held its annual Christmas celebration for
burn victims living in underprivileged areas
at the Fellowship Hall c/o Anderson United
Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi
(December ll,1999). Close to 100 children
will be able to celebrate the holiday season
various problems, inspire them by showing
his muscles, and give them sound advice
about how he beat the odds. Professional
entertainers national recording artist/gospel
singer Melvin Williams and blues singer
Wi11ie Clayton will appear at the event, as
well as Santa Claus, a magician, deejay and
dancers. Derrick believes anyone can do
any.thing, and he is living proof.
For more information on this eyent or to
make tax-de&,tc t ible c ontributions, contact
the Derrick Jones Btrrn Foundation at PO.
Box 1 62 1 B, Jackson, MS 392 I I -999B,
telephone 601-978-3286, or check out
FANFRENZYcom
Surmmrary
Derrick and Jeanne certainly are inspirations
to us all. They possess unbelievable enthusiasm, dedication and zest for life. That's
why I decided to write this special humaninterest story ifnotto help others dealing
with similar physical problems, then to
arouse people's awareness that we do have
some truly amazing people in bodybuilding
who have overcome life-threatening illnesses or tragic accidents. These are athletes
who have set high standards for themselves
to live a healthful lile. They merit our
admiration. There's a lesson to be learned
here and remembered always. Be thankful
for what you have and who you are. 'rldr,
APRIL/MUSCLEMAG 113