Custodian Shirley Davis thought it was odd when she stopped seeing OCC student Lexy walking to her ceramic classes on the Royal Oak campus.
The two instantly clicked nearly three years ago when Lexy began taking classes at the College. What began with a few friendly “hellos” led to hugs and regular conversations about their day.
Then months went by with no sight of Lexy. Davis couldn’t believe the student would just abruptly leave without saying goodbye.
At the start of the Fall semester, Davis felt relieved when she spotted Lexy in the hallway and greeted her with a big hug.
“Where have you been my friend?!” she asked. “I missed your face!”
The answer is one she didn’t expect to hear.
“I was battling and beating breast cancer,” Lexy shared.
The news tugged at Davis’ heart. Davis is a breast cancer survivor.
An act of kindness
Davis knows first-hand how difficult it is to go through breast cancer treatment, both physically and mentally. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and is now cancer-free.
“When you have that in your body, you feel it’s the end even though you know there are survivors,” said Davis. “When it’s in you, you have a whole different perspective. It’s important to stay positive and know you can beat this. It’s not the end.”
Davis decided she wanted to do something special for Lexy to let her know she was not alone in this battle.
One afternoon, she found Lexy sitting with her classmates at a table across from the campus bookstore. She walked up to the group and handed Lexy a pink gift bag. Inside were breast cancer awareness-themed items including ‘Be Strong’ socks and stickers, a ‘Think Pink’ tumbler, pink pen and a journal with a hand-written message from her.
Lexy was surprised and touched by the gesture.
“For Shirley to acknowledge my breast cancer and what I’m going through tells me that I’m not alone—people do care and no matter how things look, there are good things going on in life,” she said. “This act of kindness reaffirms that for me.”
Sharing their stories to bring awareness
Lexy was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine checkup in April 2024. The 64-year-old woman had a partial mastectomy to remove the tumor and radiation afterward. She is happy to report that she is currently cancer free.
In 2024, more than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate of breast cancer is 99%.
Lexy is on a mission to “normalize the conversation” about breast cancer and has been using her social media as a platform.
“First and foremost, I want to stress to women the importance of early detection,” she said. “You need to get tested and not let being afraid of the result keep you from going. It saved my life.”
“Second, be sensitive and aware that anyone around you could be going through this experience no matter how well they present themselves.”
For Davis, this is the first time she is publicly sharing her story. Going through the experience has given the 59-year-old woman a new outlook on life. Breast cancer is part of her family’s medical history, and she has lost several loved ones to the disease.
“Now when people ask me how are you doing, I say amazing because I come from a background of loss and I’m a survivor,” she said.
Lexy appreciates the support she has received from Davis. The student said she has always been drawn to Davis’ positive energy.
“She is so vibrant, her smile is infectious, and she is a hard worker who I can relate to,” Lexy said. “My mother was a hard worker, too. Shirley is just a blessing and works in such a caring environment. I’m thrilled to be a student here at OCC.”
About OCC
Offering nearly 100 degrees and certificates, OCC is Michigan’s largest multi-campus community college and No. 1 transfer institution in the state. The College provides academic and career training and enriching experiences; to empower students to reach their potential and enhance our community. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. A seven-person Board of Trustees governs OCC. Board members are elected on a non-partisan, at-large basis, serve as volunteers and are not paid. Mission statement: OCC is committed to empowering our students to succeed and advancing our community. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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