Sam DeBianchi: 'I Almost Died at a Young Age'

The Miami agent reveals a serious diagnosis she received as a teen.

By Sarv Kreindler Jul 31, 2014, 12:09 PM ET

Sam DeBianchi's confidence is a huge part of her success has a high-powered realtor. But things weren't always so easy for the Million Dollar Listing Miami star.

Sam reveals that she was bullied as a child because of having thick facial hair. "They would circle me every day and go on and on about how ugly I was," she tells Life & Style about the kids at her school. "I’d cry to my mom and dad, begging them to homeschool me."

The ordeal ended up being much more serious than anyone could have imagined when a concerned doctor sent a 14-year-old Sam to get tested. She was ultimately diagnosed with Cushing's disease, a hormonal malady that caused her a pituitary tumor. "It gave me osteoporosis and diabetes—and it was going to kill me," Sam explains. "I almost died at an early age."

Sam underwent two harrowing operations by the age of 15 to remove the tumor, and, thankfully, came out of them healthy and grateful. "I feel so lucky to be here today, living the life I love," she says before revealing that some of her bullies have popped back into her life. "Now some of the people who were nasty to me back in school suddenly want to hang out. I’m friendly to them—but I don’t forget."

[Source: Life & Style]