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USF Alum's Latest Battle: Walk Again

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2008

TAMPA - Having already beaten cancer twice, Jeff Wagner is now faced with another daunting challenge: walking again.

Wagner, whose battle with cancer and his personal mantra "Finish Strong" became a rallying point for the University of South Florida football team, said he has "little to no movement" in his legs and has been wheelchair bound since Christmas.

On Monday, Wagner, 45, checked into Atlanta's Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital specializing in the treatment of spinal cord and brain injuries. He said he will remain there at least a month trying to regain the use of his lower body.

On Aug. 28, Wagner underwent a bone marrow transplant to help overcome acute myeloid leukemia, his second bout with cancer. After a bone marrow transplant, patients are unable to be in crowds for 100 days because of the risk of infection.

On Day 101, Wagner and the football team were honored Dec. 8 at a USF men's basketball game. Even though he was limited to his wheelchair, Wagner still attended the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

"When I was over the bone marrow transplant, I was 'hip-hip hooray,'" Wagner said. "That was my coming out party."

Wagner had a spaghetti-like tumor in the thoracic area of his spine. After the transplant, the damage to the spinal cord caused by the tumor flared up.

"After the bone marrow transplant, I thought I slowly could get back to the life I was living, but God had a different plan," Wagner said. "I have a third challenge, but God only gives you what you can handle.

"Right now I'm battling to walk to get back to a lifestyle. My first two rounds I was battling to get back to life."

A 1986 USF alum, Wagner won't be able to attend the Bulls' football banquet Saturday as planned, but he said he's looking forward to USF's spring game in April. Wagner said when he's able to walk, he's already determined the first thing he'll do.

"I'll take my dog, Dixie, for a walk," Wagner said of his border collie. "And we'll both be wearing our 'Finish Strong' T-shirts."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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