NANNY 911 and TikTok star Deborah Finck died on January 14 at the age of 57 after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
The mother of six was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, an aggressive form of soft tissue cancer five years ago.
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Who is Deborah Finck?
Deborah from Norwalk, Connecticut, first became known after taking part in the reality series Nanny 911 with her husband Paul.
The couple had three sets of twins together making home life challenging.
So they signed up for the show and welcomed expert childcare providers into their homes to advise them on how to improve their children’s behaviour and home life.
They featured in a 2005 episode of the Fox reality show.
After her cancer diagnosis, Deborah became a content creator, taking to Instagram and TikTok to share video updates about her cancer journey, amassing a following of over 800,000 people.
Her life was turned upside down in 2019 when she had a persistent cough that was misdiagnosed as bronchitis.
After she had an accident and had a CT scan, it was found that she had a mass in her pulmonary artery which led to the diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma.
Deborah underwent extensive treatment including open-heart surgery, the removal of a lung, chemotherapy and radiation.
But the aggressive cancer continued to return and she was eventually placed in hospice care at the beginning of the year.
On January 7, Deborah told viewers: “I’m getting worse and it’s not getting better.
“This really, really is horrible. I wish you guys the best of everything, you’re all good people. Stay that way.”
In her final weeks, Deborah made videos for her husband and children to say goodbye.
She continued responding to fans with her final video, posted the day before she died.
Deborah addressed a fan who thanked her for helping him cope with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts.
Deborah told him: “It meant a lot to me that you shared that.
“I sit here and I think, ‘Why me? … What have I done in this world to make a difference?’ And maybe this was my purpose.
“You have a lot to live for. You have a lot of people still out there for you, and I don’t want to go anywhere either. I really don’t.”
Tributes
Deborah’s daughter Katerina had been documenting her mother’s cancer journey since 2020 and announced her mother’s death with social media posts on TikTok and Instagram.
She paid tribute to her “mommy” “best friend” and “sunshine.”
Katerina said: “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You were the most beautiful mother and the best mommy anyone could ever ask for.
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“You taught me strength, courage, bravery, and what it means to truly love and never give up.
“You believed in me, stood by me, and showed me the meaning of unconditional love.
“You will always be remembered, never replaced. You were the sunshine of my life, and every time I see a sunflower, I will know you are here with me.”
On Instagram, Deborah’s heartbroken husband posted a lengthy post honouring his wife.
He wrote: “Today, my heart is shattered as I share the news that my beloved wife, Deborah, has passed away.
“After a brave and relentless five-year battle with cancer, she left this world peacefully, surrounded by love.
“Deborah was my partner in every sense of the word—my confidant, my rock, the love of my life, and my eternal soul mate.
“Together, we built a life filled with love, laughter, and countless memories I will cherish forever.”
He praised Deborah’s “boundless courage” as well as her “warmth, compassion and unwavering grace” which sees her leave “behind a legacy of love, selflessness, and the most beautiful family.”
He added: “Deborah, my love, you were my everything, and losing you is a pain I cannot put into words. But I will carry you with me in every step I take, every decision I make, and every moment I live.”
Fans’ Tributes
Fans have extended their condolences to her family while paying tribute to Deborah who some called an “angel” and a “beautiful soul.”
Remembrance services will be held for the beloved mother and wife on January 17 and 18.
Instead of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to honour Deborah to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Her husband said: “(Ronald McDonald House Charities) meant so much to Deborah in her time of need.”
He has since posted a video on his Instagram account admitting that he is “in a daze.”
Paul said: “I am in a daze thinking about what my tomorrows are going to be like. And yet I have no choice but to face it head-on. Tomorrow is another day!”
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