Stepping Stones For Survival

The last time I saw Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis she led the survivors’ lap at Relay for Life at York High School in June 2006. As a fellow cancer survivor, I also walked that lap. Her willingness to speak for all of us and increase public awareness brought tears to my eyes. I spoke to her briefly about my book, Hope for the Journey through Cancer due out May 1, 2007.

In February 2007, her cancer returned. I later mailed Jo Ann a gift copy of my book. My own congresswoman battled cancer, not only with grace and courage, but with an unshakable faith in the Lord. She never gave up. By example, she taught us how to live with cancer and how to die.

Jo Ann passed away on October 6, 2007 during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Daily Press on Sunday, October 7, 2007, quoted her husband as saying, “She was a fighter . . . She didn’t lose this fight, either. She won this fight. She’s healed completely. She’s where you and I want to go.” His words reminded me of Philippians 1:21 (NIV): “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Jo Ann lived with love and determination to fight for her district, “ America’s First District,” as she called it. She died only to this earthly life. She went from this world into the arms of the Lord. Mrs. Davis could have quoted 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” God probably greeted her with the words of Matthew 25:23 (NIV): “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Copyright © October 2007 by Yvonne Ortega