Strength through Adversity: Leading from the Front No Matter the Challenge

EAST CHINA SEA

03.30.2020

Story by Seaman Apprentice Theodore Lee 

USS America (LHA 6)   

In December 2016, Navy Counselor 1st Class Anita Felix discovered something that forever changed the course of her life. She noticed a lump in her skin, and in January the following year, she received notification from her doctor that the lump was stage two breast cancer.
Even though her doctor told her that her chances of survival were high at this early stage of the cancer’s development, she was still scared of what could happen to her, said Felix.

She was frightened by this unexpected obstacle and was not sure what she could do. Fearful of all the possibilities, it took her two weeks to notify her command, Naval Computer Telecommunications Station San Diego, and her family about her condition.

“I didn’t tell anybody,” said Felix. “Notifying them was the hardest thing I had to do.”

Her family and shipmates supported her from the beginning. “I got you. We’re going to beat this thing,” said her command master chief at the time, retired Command Master Chief James Ritch.

Later that week, Felix went through an initial surgery to remove the cancer. During the procedure, the surgical team discovered the cancer had spread much more than they originally thought and were forced to keep operating longer than expected. While she was on the operating table, her husband told the surgeons to do whatever it took to remove the cancer.

“When I woke up, I was in a shock. My whole breast had been removed and I was expecting to see bandages but I had nothing there.”

After her first surgery, she started chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Unfortunately, the treatments led to hair loss and dental issues. The side effects caused her to feel insecure about her appearance to the point where she didn’t come to work for the next five days. After coming back to work, she noticed that the Sailors she worked with were very supportive and accommodating of her and didn’t bring up the fact that she had no hair.

Instead of staying home while going through her chemotherapy treatment, she chose to still come in for work to set an example to the Sailors that looked up to her. She wanted them to know that even with cancer, she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way of beating this challenge in her life.

“For me as a career counselor, Sailors prefer to see me fight than to see me sit back on the back burners,” said Felix. “If I’m fighting and I’m assuring them that I can still do it with having cancer, Sailors will be more willing to do new things.”

Over time, the chemotherapy and radiation treatment took their toll on Felix’s physical health. She developed a sinus infection and was hospitalized for eight weeks. She grew tired from her battle and was scared of not knowing if she would get any better.


Ritch visited Felix in the hospital and saw her at the lowest point of her cancer battle. After seeing her lying in her bed and refusing to accept visitors, Ritch offered her words of motivation.

“You have two choices,” said Ritch. “Either you’re going to be sitting in this bed, eating and talking on Thursday, or your Sailors are going to see you at your worst. I can’t tell them any longer that you don’t want any visitors. You have three days to make up your mind.”

That night, she asked the nurse if she could have some food and some apple juice, and despite warnings from the nurse, she ate it. She then went for a walk and got back in bed to do some work on her laptop.
The next morning, her Sailors came to the hospital to visit her. She immediately told her junior Sailor that they haven’t been completing all the work which was given to them, and she wasn’t going to let her condition bring her down anymore. Felix said after instructing her junior Sailors to shape up and get back to work, Ritch told her she was alright.
Nine months after her ordeal began, Felix learned she was free of cancer. She recognizes August 8, 2017 as the day that her battle was finally over.

When she received her next set of orders, she had the choice to go to a sea command or return to shore duty. She chose to go to her next sea command with the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63). She transferred to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) after being selected to chief petty officer. This newest challenge for her would be bested just like her battle with breast cancer.
Even though she beat cancer, she still wasn’t willing to talk to anyone about her experience. The following year, When Felix was selected for the rank of chief petty officer, she would find the confidence to talk about her harrowing journey. The challenge and camaraderie of chief petty officer induction would bring her into a close-knit community with whom she could share her story.

To this day, Felix reminds herself that the next day isn’t guaranteed or promised. She lives every day to the fullest, not backing down and not giving up. She finds moments of joy in everything she does while setting an example to her Sailors.

“When it seems bad, it’s not as bad as it seems,” said Felix. “Some things don’t always end happily, but there’s always a happy point in that moment and you have to find it to get you through it.”

• Date Taken: 03.30.2020
• Date Posted: 04.15.2020 07:42
• Story ID: 367416
• Location: EAST CHINA SEA