He Stood by Her Side, and Never Left
In 2014, Mr. Shirley took the distance out of their long-distance relationship by transferring to Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., where Ms. Valdez had enrolled upon graduating from high school. The following year, in May 2015, doctors deemed Mia cancer-free. “Our prayers were answered,” Ms. Valdez said. “We were so thrilled for her.”…