Biggest Loser Deni Hill’s Mormon Miracle in Mongolia

Fans of “The Biggest Loser” may  may remember Deni Hill, the at-home winner of Season 11. For the past year, she has been in Mongolia with her husband Dell, serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

About a month ago,  Deni (or “Sister Hill,” as she’s referred to during her mission) reported on her Facebook page that she “tripped and fell, broke my arm. I need pins to fix it.” She added, “Two of my worst fears realized, falling and surgery in Mongolia. My trust is in The Lord, I know I’ll be OK.”

The photo showed Deni holding an X-ray. Another photo showed some very painful-looking purple bruises on her left arm, and a comment that the X-rays were being sent to doctors in Salt Lake.

So apparently, Sister Hill decided to get a second opinion before going under the knife in Mongolia. Then a day or two later, Dell’s post said, “Your prayers were heard. The Dr. said that she will need physical therapy and NO SURGERY. The arm is back where it is supposed to be and we will go back to our home in Erdenet tomorrow. She is in pain but we are sooooo blessed.”

Several later photos showed Deni with her arm in a sling and wrapped with bandages.  It looks painful, but it sounds like she’s on the road to recovery.  She also wrote, “Thank you all for your love and prayers. It is my left arm, thank goodness!…. This is a new adventure. (Just wish it was a painless one!) Love you all!!!”

On Sept. 19, Dell wrote, “Last week we went to Ulanbaatar for a mission conference and to have follow up X-rays on Deni’s broken shoulder. The X-ray showed that the break has already completely healed. We continue to be blessed. Now the real physical therapy can begin.”

I got to know Deni when she was a member of the Skills Fitness gym in Centerville. At the time, she had just been eliminated from the Biggest Loser campus. We had fun in Body Jam class while she worked to lose the highest percentage of weight in time for the season finale.  She was successful, losing from 256 to 131 pounds, and winning $100,000. It’s quite a challenge, having a painful injury in a foreign country, and having to put your faith in the health care system and God.  Here’s hoping that Deni’s arm continues to heal.