About Us

About She Still Smiles

Shalita Lyons, founder and Chair of She Still Smiles Inc., founded the 501c3 organization in April 2019. It's mission is: To inspire hope, educate, provide moral support, and financial assistance to breast cancer survivors and their families in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The program was initially funded by Shalita’s personal funds and donations from She Still Smiles, Inc’s board members, family, friends, and supporters of breast cancer survivors.

Shalita was born in Washington, DC in 1969. She is one of four children and a mother of three. Shalita’s parents were very instrumental in her life instilling a sense of purpose and giving back to the community. Shalita is a motivational speaker and entrepreneur with a background in public administration, public service, and sales and service. She has served her community as a police officer in Washington, DC for nearly a decade. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Administration of Justice and an Associates degree in Law Enforcement from the University of the District of Columbia. In her professional life, Shalita currently works for the Federal Government. Shalita has been a realtor since 2005 and enjoys placing families into houses that become their forever homes. In her spare time, Shalita enjoys exercising, roller skating, dancing, reading, and traveling.

Shalita’s vision to provide hope, inspiration, and support to breast cancer survivors in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia has come to fruition with the establishment of She Still Smiles, Inc.

Photo of Shalita Lyons, founder and Chair of She Still Smiles

our commitment is to Inspire Hope, Educate, Provide Moral Support and Financial Assistance to Breast Cancer Survivors and their Families in the DMV.

Know the Facts

About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.

A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in Black women than white women.

Shalita's Story

HE HAS GIVEN ME A NEW SONG TO SING AND A HYMN OF PRAISE!

One night, I noticed a small pea-sized knot in my right upper breast area. I immediately scheduled an appointment with my internist. I was examined, given a mammogram, and a biopsy - all in one day! It hadn't been a full year since my last mammogram - yet, I’ll never forget the day of the not-so-good news…January 5, 2016. I was driving home and already in my neighborhood. The doctor called and asked me if I were driving. I knew what was coming next and therefore had to sit in my car for a while before walking in my house. When I finally did, my husband knew from the blank stare on my face that I had received bad news. I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I was the least likely to get sick in my family and yet, I was the first person in my family to be diagnosed with breast cancer. The news was quite devastating. After crying for what seemed like forever over something that I could not control, joy came the next morning!

I was scheduled for back-to-back visits to see the Oncologist, Radiologist, and the Plastic Surgeon. Being ignorant of it all, I relied heavily on all of the doctors whom I deemed were the experts. A few weeks later, I had a lumpectomy (removal of the cancer and surrounding tissue). The cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes; however, it was recommended that I undergo chemo therapy and radiation treatments which was to start two weeks later.

Throughout my battle, there were so many factors in my life that were tremendously affected. Being off from work, changing my eating habits, and my energy plummeting. BUT GOD!!! What helped me most was my faith in Him that I would be healed. In addition, the love and support that I received from my family and the camaraderie amongst friends led me to igniting "Shalita Still Smiling Sundays.” This event was to take place every Sunday at my home until the end of my treatments. We would feast, fellowship, and have fun! I loved the journey and I’m ever so grateful and thankful to those who came from near and far but most of all, I thank God!
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The day that the port was to be placed in me for chemo treatments to begin, my vein was not being cooperative and therefore, the appointment had to be rescheduled. I saw this as a sign! For three days straight (day and night), I read, researched, and learned all that I could about cancer and its treatments. At the same time, I fasted, prayed, and asked for God's confirmation. This led to my decision not to have chemo or radiation treatments but rather, to have both breast removed.

Having a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery is like having a newborn baby. While in labor/getting prepped for surgery, the anesthesia replaces the epidural. A few days later, your chest is engorged to the point of not wanting to be touched in that area....did you decide to breastfeed? There's no baby remember. Just a make-shift bra and gauze to hold your chest into place. After a long day, the house quiets down. Everyone sleeps peacefully except the patient. Every few hours, instead of waking to a crying baby because of a wet pamper or empty stomach, you wake to pain.

In the meantime, I talked things over with my husband and he supported my decision of taking a holistic approach.…eating organic/vegan foods, cut out processed foods, little to no sugar, natural herbs, exercise regularly, and lastly, rely on my faith! This in turn, would build my immune system up to fight off the bad cancerous cells that could still exist in my body.

There came a time when I did not consider myself as a SURVIVOR because of the uncertainty of whether or not the cancer would return with or without chemo and radiation treatments. What I do know is that I'm a CANCER CONQUEROR and every day that I am here on God's planet Earth, I AM IN FACT A SURVIVOR and I STILL SMILE! I feel good with my decision and I am at peace!

I am a child of God and fear nothing and no one but Him! Speaking of the word fear and not knowing if cancer recurring existed within me, let me tell you, it motivated me more to stay prayed up, maintain a healthy diet, exercise continuously, and speak on it every day with the hopes that others would follow in my footsteps.

Who knew that I would be called upon to educate others, inspire hope, provide moral support and financial assistance, and share my experience with other survivors and their family members! My deep desire and strong passion to give back the same love and care that I had received before led to the birth of She Still Smiles, Inc.

I end this particular chapter of my story by saying that I will not give up, I will go through! It is easy to quit, but it takes faith to go through. When my faith honors God, He honors my faith! And with Him on my side, I will come out stronger than I was before I went in. I hope that my story will bring a smile to your face, because I am still smiling!

Founding and Board Members

Our Members

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Shalita Lyons

Shalita Lyons

Founder/Chair

Carlos Davis

Carlos Davis

Vice Chair

Deniece Taylor

Deniece Taylor

Secretary

©2020 She Still Smiles, Inc.