Published: Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Class of 2009: Cancer hasn't dimmed grad's spirit
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Michael O'Leary / The Herald
Classmates and teachers at Arlington High School say Jay Davis inspires them with his kindness and perseverance.
ARLINGTON — Jay Davis knows his fellow seniors at Arlington High School care about him.
He might not be able to comprehend how much.
These days, they miss the quirky and endearing autistic kid, who sometimes talks to himself in public about dinosaurs, SpongeBob SquarePants and World War II dogfights but amazes classmates with his knowledge of the periodic table's atomic weights of elements and his grasp of history, geography, cinema and what's on the back of state quarters.
If Jay were well enough, he would be able to walk the halls and see the more than 200 classmates and teachers with large white J.D. letters emblazoned on the front of their black T-shirts.
He would realize the void he's left when his fellow band members describe the bliss he projects when pounding the bells with his mallets to the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
He might get a sense of how much he entertains classmates with his childlike innocence and vivid imagination.
For now, he just looks forward to graduation ceremonies in the school's stadium on Friday evening, a milestone he hopes he will have the strength to attend. During the three days leading up to commencement, he'll be hooked up for another session of chemotherapy at Seattle Children's Hospital to treat the cancer found in his mouth and lungs.
Jay is among the thousands of students in Snohomish County graduating from high school this spring. Each has a story. This year's graduates include a Stanwood math whiz headed to MIT, a Snohomish home-schooler who made the most of a short stint in public school, and a Lake Stevens girl who endured homelessness while succeeding in the classroom.
For Jay, cancer is another setback in a gentle life. Three years ago, his mother, Stephanie, died unexpectedly in her sleep of unknown causes.
Through it all, classmates and teachers at Arlington High say Jay has inspired them with his kindness, spirit and perseverance.
“He is one of those guys who is nice to everybody, no matter what,” said Braidee Leon, a senior who helped organize a T-shirt sale to raise money for Jay's medical expenses. The 250 shirts sold out quickly.
“There is something about him that brings out the best in people,” said Diane Wurz, who had Jay in a study-skills class.
At 18, Jay is not saddled with a teenager's aloofness or fear of what others might think.
Allison Taylor, a senior, remembers the time after a band concert when Jay tracked down her dad. “He asks, ‘Are you Allison's father? I really like your daughter.' It made me smile.”
In English class earlier this year, students were given an assignment to share a song and discuss the lyrics. Everyone played tunes from their iPods. Everyone except Jay.
He stood in front of the room and sang the Bee Gees disco hit “Staying Alive.” Nervous laughter turned into an ovation.
During a school concert featuring selections from “The Phantom of the Opera,” Jay's whole body swayed as he raised his arms and squinted his eyes during a crescendo — the image is etched in the memory of band director John Grabowski.
“I wish we could feel half as much joy in life,” he said.
Ed Davis knows his son's perspective can be disarming to classmates.
“He looks at everything through a child's eyes,” Ed said. “Everything is so big and new. Even if it's old, it's still like new. I think they feel that and can remember.”
Despite having Asperger's syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, Jay steadfastly wanted to be treated like his peers.
He had to overcome obstacles, including his aversion to loud noises, to be in the high school band.
He refused to change the date for his senior project presentation, even though it was a day after chemotherapy. Despite his fatigue, he spoke for 17 minutes, describing the 50-page novel that he wrote called “The Lost Glacier” about two grown whales protecting their son from hunters. He signed copies for the panel of judges afterward.
Jay, who has lost his hair and 30 pounds during cancer treatment, desperately hopes he can make it to graduation. He wants to see the people who have accepted him for who he is. He knows they care.
The other day, members of the band spent a Saturday helping him move from Arlington to Mill Creek so he could be closer to the hospital and his dad closer to work.
He savors a card made from construction paper that was signed by more than half the senior class. It was given to him with a big basket of gifts, including some of his favorite movies, but it is the card he keeps coming back to.
“They really think a lot about me,” Jay said with a smile.
Perhaps Jay's biggest gift is that he has helped others feel better about life.
“He brings your faith in humanity back,” said his senior English teacher, Brooke Dalgaard. “The way he treats people and the way they look out for him, you know the world is full of good people.”
More of the Class of 2009:
Drummer is always upbeat
Handling a balancing act with grace
Her education gave her purpose
Science whiz knows just where she belongs: MIT
Part-time senior made the most of his year
He might not be able to comprehend how much.
These days, they miss the quirky and endearing autistic kid, who sometimes talks to himself in public about dinosaurs, SpongeBob SquarePants and World War II dogfights but amazes classmates with his knowledge of the periodic table's atomic weights of elements and his grasp of history, geography, cinema and what's on the back of state quarters.
If Jay were well enough, he would be able to walk the halls and see the more than 200 classmates and teachers with large white J.D. letters emblazoned on the front of their black T-shirts.
He would realize the void he's left when his fellow band members describe the bliss he projects when pounding the bells with his mallets to the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
He might get a sense of how much he entertains classmates with his childlike innocence and vivid imagination.
For now, he just looks forward to graduation ceremonies in the school's stadium on Friday evening, a milestone he hopes he will have the strength to attend. During the three days leading up to commencement, he'll be hooked up for another session of chemotherapy at Seattle Children's Hospital to treat the cancer found in his mouth and lungs.
Jay is among the thousands of students in Snohomish County graduating from high school this spring. Each has a story. This year's graduates include a Stanwood math whiz headed to MIT, a Snohomish home-schooler who made the most of a short stint in public school, and a Lake Stevens girl who endured homelessness while succeeding in the classroom.
For Jay, cancer is another setback in a gentle life. Three years ago, his mother, Stephanie, died unexpectedly in her sleep of unknown causes.
Through it all, classmates and teachers at Arlington High say Jay has inspired them with his kindness, spirit and perseverance.
“He is one of those guys who is nice to everybody, no matter what,” said Braidee Leon, a senior who helped organize a T-shirt sale to raise money for Jay's medical expenses. The 250 shirts sold out quickly.
“There is something about him that brings out the best in people,” said Diane Wurz, who had Jay in a study-skills class.
At 18, Jay is not saddled with a teenager's aloofness or fear of what others might think.
Allison Taylor, a senior, remembers the time after a band concert when Jay tracked down her dad. “He asks, ‘Are you Allison's father? I really like your daughter.' It made me smile.”
In English class earlier this year, students were given an assignment to share a song and discuss the lyrics. Everyone played tunes from their iPods. Everyone except Jay.
He stood in front of the room and sang the Bee Gees disco hit “Staying Alive.” Nervous laughter turned into an ovation.
During a school concert featuring selections from “The Phantom of the Opera,” Jay's whole body swayed as he raised his arms and squinted his eyes during a crescendo — the image is etched in the memory of band director John Grabowski.
“I wish we could feel half as much joy in life,” he said.
Ed Davis knows his son's perspective can be disarming to classmates.
“He looks at everything through a child's eyes,” Ed said. “Everything is so big and new. Even if it's old, it's still like new. I think they feel that and can remember.”
Despite having Asperger's syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, Jay steadfastly wanted to be treated like his peers.
He had to overcome obstacles, including his aversion to loud noises, to be in the high school band.
He refused to change the date for his senior project presentation, even though it was a day after chemotherapy. Despite his fatigue, he spoke for 17 minutes, describing the 50-page novel that he wrote called “The Lost Glacier” about two grown whales protecting their son from hunters. He signed copies for the panel of judges afterward.
Jay, who has lost his hair and 30 pounds during cancer treatment, desperately hopes he can make it to graduation. He wants to see the people who have accepted him for who he is. He knows they care.
The other day, members of the band spent a Saturday helping him move from Arlington to Mill Creek so he could be closer to the hospital and his dad closer to work.
He savors a card made from construction paper that was signed by more than half the senior class. It was given to him with a big basket of gifts, including some of his favorite movies, but it is the card he keeps coming back to.
“They really think a lot about me,” Jay said with a smile.
Perhaps Jay's biggest gift is that he has helped others feel better about life.
“He brings your faith in humanity back,” said his senior English teacher, Brooke Dalgaard. “The way he treats people and the way they look out for him, you know the world is full of good people.”
More of the Class of 2009:
Story tags »
• Arlington High SchoolRelated
- The Class of 2009: Drummer is always upbeat 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Handling a balancing act with grace 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Her education gave her purpose 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Part-time senior made the most of his year 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Science whiz knows just where she belongs: MIT 6/7/09
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