Out of Struggle Comes Strength
On Thursday, October 29th, in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Davidson Day Upper School students gathered in a virtual lunchtime meeting to hear Middle School Math Teacher Stacey Morrison speak about her personal battle with breast cancer.
The meeting, sponsored by the Student Diversity Council, was organized by Marie Madsen '24.
The meeting, sponsored by the Student Diversity Council, was organized by Marie Madsen '24.
In March of 2011, Morrison was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had 13 surgeries over the next two years and has been taking a ‘cancer pill’ ever since that she will finish taking in June of 2021.
“The statistics say that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime,” Morrison said. “I’m one of those women.”
Morrison said that the worst thing about her diagnosis was having to share the news with her daughters. Ironically, however, she stated that the best thing about that day was the diagnosis itself. “I know that sounds strange,” she said, “but with my family history, I felt that it was more than likely that I would get that diagnosis. My hope had always been that I would discover it early, and beat it.”
Morrison said that the worst thing about her diagnosis was having to share the news with her daughters. Ironically, however, she stated that the best thing about that day was the diagnosis itself. “I know that sounds strange,” she said, “but with my family history, I felt that it was more than likely that I would get that diagnosis. My hope had always been that I would discover it early, and beat it.”
The family history includes a mother who died of breast cancer in 2006 at the age of 64.
And, one of her best friends, Jennifer, succumbed to breast cancer in June of last year.
"To claim that I wasn’t scared throughout my cancer fight would be a lie,” Morrison recounted. “But in the moment you’re dealt with a traumatic event, you have a choice. You can fall apart and let the hurt define you, or you can lean into the fight and turn it into something good.”
And, one of her best friends, Jennifer, succumbed to breast cancer in June of last year.
"To claim that I wasn’t scared throughout my cancer fight would be a lie,” Morrison recounted. “But in the moment you’re dealt with a traumatic event, you have a choice. You can fall apart and let the hurt define you, or you can lean into the fight and turn it into something good.”
One of those good things was the non-profit organization Ms. Morrison started with her sister, Shannon Laatsch, who is also married to Upper School Chemistry Teacher Brad Laatsch, and the mother of two Davidson Day students.
The organization, Shirley's Angels, which became a registered 501(c)3 non-profit in 2012, was started as a tribute to their mom Shirley and the tenacity and love for life that she exhibited throughout her cancer battle.
The organization, Shirley's Angels, which became a registered 501(c)3 non-profit in 2012, was started as a tribute to their mom Shirley and the tenacity and love for life that she exhibited throughout her cancer battle.
“We began providing outreach and support for newly diagnosed women and men with breast cancer in the form of initial diagnosis packages and monthly love gifts,” Morrison said. “As our warriors tackle their cancer fight, whether it's with chemo, radiation, surgery or sometimes all three, Shirley's Angels follows them through their course of treatment. Our goal is to have nobody think they’re fighting alone.”
In their first year in 2012, Shirley's angels supported 15 cancer warriors. This past September, they sent out 152 care packages.
“In the coming years, it’s projected that there will be 275,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the United States," shared Morrison. "Just being a woman puts you in the highest risk category.” About one percent of breast cancer diagnoses in the United States are diagnosed in men, roughly 2,000 cases each year.
“When I think about breast cancer, I feel a lot of different emotions,” Morrison said. “Often we think of it as just wearing pink in October or the pink ribbon. It’s more than just a pink ribbon.”
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©2020 Davidson Day School. All Rights Reserved.