I’m a former child bodybuilder, cancer survivor and amputee – I look unrecognizable at 19 having been ripped up as a kid

ETHAN Fairbank’s journey to becoming a bodybuilder is inspirational to many who follow him on social media.

Fairbanks, 19, has survived two cancer bouts – including one that resulted in the amputation of his left leg.

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In a YouTube video, Fairbanks describes his childhood as a frequently bedridden cancer survivor.

Before he was diagnosed with cancer, Fairbanks says he was involved in “just about every sport you can think of.”

“I was super athletic and very competitive.”

After he had pain in his leg, his mother took him to the doctor.

At the time, Fairbanks claims he was misdiagnosed when doctors thought he just had a typical sports injury.

More pain, more misdiagnoses, and trips to the hospital hastened the discovery of cancer in his hip and lungs.

“I was super sick, throwing up all the time, couldn’t eat and honestly just sat on my deathbed,” he said.

His condition deteriorated until his left leg had to be amputated.

Chemotherapy eventually worked, and Fairbanks was able to go back to school at 12.

Six months later, a similar pain developed in his right leg, sending him back to the hospital with another cancer diagnosis.

Successful radiation eliminated his cancer but left his hip fragile.

The bone broke and required a near total hip replacement.

After recovering from hip surgery, Fairbanks began his “fitness journey.”

He started lifting when he fully recovered from his surgeries at the age of 13.

Fairbanks is now widely followed on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where he shares inspirational videos of his recovery and fitness journey.

In a recent Instagram post, he said, “The most important thing is that you don’t give up because there will come a day when you light the fire again and love it again.”

Fairbanks is a two-time US powerlifting record holder in the bench press.

He now offers weightlifting coaching and is sponsored by Huge Supplements.

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