Deborah Hoffman is a breast cancer survivor. Not once, not twice, but four times. She is living proof that prayers work, and that miracles do happen.

“I am a 15-year breast cancer survivor,” said the wife, mother, and grandmother who works in the Personnel Department of the Manteca Unified School District.

Originally diagnosed in 1998, her breast cancer has metastasized four different times. The last time the disease came back was three years ago in November.

“I’ve been cancer-free since,” she said smiling.

“I give glory to God for the miracles He has done and for the great doctors at UCSF (University of California, San Francisco medical center),” said the longtime Manteca resident and member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

She said she was also grateful for the great support she received, and continues to receive, from family and friends. Her family includes husband Randy who has recently retired from the Tracy Defense Logistics Agency – more familiarly known to many as the Tracy Defense Depot – after working there for 40 years, and their three children and their families. They are oldest son Scott, 35, who works at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, his wife Karice, a stay-at-home mom, and their two daughters, Elsa and Naomi; daughter Kristina Brown, a teacher and academic coach at Lathrop Elementary School, her husband Blake who is a civil engineer (they are expecting their first child in February); and youngest son Daniel, 28, who is studying biological sciences at California State University, East Bay.

As part of her post-chemotherapy medical check-up routine, she goes to UCSF once every three weeks. She also has to take immunotherapy, bone building, and chemo pills for the rest of her life.

“I just give glory to God for all of this, and I’m thankful for all the prayers and support I received. It just means so much to me to give glory to God for all the miracles he has done in my life. God has done great things to me,” reiterated Hoffman, recalling her 15-year ordeal.