Sisters girl beats cancer, gives back

Holly Davis was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in June 2009. After undergoing months and months of treatment at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, she was cancer-free when she finished treatment in August 2011. And as of August 18, 2016, she can call herself cured.

Holly, 9, the daughter of Chad and Darcy Davis of Sisters, wanted to do something to give back to others facing the same rough road she traveled down as a young child.

"I couldn't donate blood because (she's had cancer) so I wanted to see what else I could do, so I decided to donate my hair instead of donating my blood," she told The Nugget.

While visiting Camp Agape in August - a camp for families dealing with cancer - she had her waist-length locks shorn and donated her hair to Wigs For Kids, which provides wigs for children who have lost their hair during chemotherapy.

"I got really, really nervous," Holly admits. But once the deed was done, "it felt nice. Felt cold, too."

Giving back is important to the whole Davis family, who are deeply appreciative of the tremendous support they received in the Sisters community throughout Holly's treatment. From meals and house cleaning and play dates for siblings to financial help from the Sparrow Club and Sisters firefighters who participated in the 2010 Firefighter Stair Climb in Seattle in Holly's honor, to the support of teachers and staff at Sisters Elementary School and Sisters Christian Academy, the community rallied as it so often does to help one of our own in need.

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults under 20 years of age. Five-year survival rates for all types of leukemia over the past 10 years are approximately 67-93 percent. Survival rates have improved significantly, in part due to funding and research supported by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which the Davis' have supported in fundraising marathons and other activities. To donate, visit http://www.lls.org.

Fully cured, Holly is athletic and active. She likes football, volleyball, basketball, softball and skiing and was very proud of her recently set record of 33 plunges while bridge-jumping on the coast.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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