Bonus Time
By Jill Ritz
I am a 32-year breast cancer survivor, and I’d like to tell my story to give hope to others who have had the disease.
Nine years after my husband Lynn and I were married, my doctor, Loren Jacobson, discovered I had breast cancer. At that time, 1975, it was uncommon to get the disease so young. I was only 29 years old. Also at that time it was a death sentence. To make matters worse I had a reoccurrence in five years which lead to my second mastectomy.
Lynn and I were blessed with four kind and caring daughters: Stephanie, Stacie, Michelle and Mandy. My first episode of cancer was after Michelle was born. I had great support from my family and friends.
My worst moment with my cancer was the pain of the 12-inch incision from a mastectomy and the lack of mobility in my arms. I remember wanting my back porch mopped. One day I did it crying the entire time. That was the day I accepted that I was going to get better.
My best memories while undergoing cancer treatments were all of the time and help that was given to me by friends and family. During my first fight with cancer, it was so hard to leave my six-week old daughter, Michelle, while I had treatments in Omaha. My sister-in-law, Janene Cruikshank, and her family took care of Michelle. Janene kept a diary for me, telling me what Michelle was doing each hour of the day. What a blessing to have that special care for my baby.
Stephanie and Stacie stayed with others, but mainly with their grandparents, Harry and Lily Ritz. This is where friends stepped in. Each week a different friend would go with me to my appointments. After my radiation treatments, we would stay in the hotel room, or if I felt up to it we would find something to do. Someone recently told me I was the original scrapbooker because I would haul baby books and scrapbooks with me and spend hours looking at and organizing photos.
One week a good friend, Demaris Schmidt, was going to go with me, but on the Friday before she fell and broke her ankle. Well, come Monday morning away we went. It was like who is taking care of whom. It is hard to believe anyone could smile at a time like that but it was a fun week.
While we were at Omaha we decided we wanted to take a helicopter ride over Omaha to view the recent tornado damage. We hopped in, Demaris first, then the pilot and then me. Just then I noticed my side didn’t have a door. I was so scared! The pilot told me if I didn’t stop grabbing his leg, he was going to have to have my phone number.
Another incident that week wasn’t quite so funny. Going to the movies was a frequent way to be doing something that wasn’t too hard. Remember, Demaris is on crutches, and I’m hurting from being so burned by the radiation. So we headed to a show called “Terms of Endearment.” Well, who knew it was about a young wife dying of cancer. We both came out of the movie sobbing uncontrollably.
In 1980 I found out I was pregnant. My local doctor and a doctor from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston discussed my situation. There was no way I could end this pregnancy, so Mandy was born.
I bargained with God: “If I could just live to see her graduate from high school.” I kept myself busy by doing prom skits, sewing with 4-H kids, substitute teaching and volunteering. I thought if I did enough, God would want to keep me on earth and do his work. I am very fortunate. I even lived to see Mandy graduate from Pharmacy school. Hey, everything from now on is bonus time. I am reminded of a verse from Psalm: “Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.”
I had been seeing cardiologist, Dr. Dale Hansen. He calls me a “medical miracle’ and has sent me to Dr. James Seward at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Seward knew my problem before he saw me. I have radiation disease. As a child I had radiation treatments for asthma, which damaged my heart and lungs. Dr. Seward describes me as covered in bubble wrap. After my first cancer diagnosis, I had radiation. The second time the treatment was linear acceleration and chemotherapy. More damage no doubt.
I am so fortunate Dr. David Minnick, Dr. Hansen and Dr. Seward continue to take exceptional care of me. They even gave me their personal cell phone numbers in case I need them.
Each day is special. Because of my extensive radiation, it will no doubt some day be the end of me, but I try my best to keep positive and celebrate each day.
Our children threw me a surprise party inviting friends and family to celebrate my accomplishment of being cancer-free for 30 years. What a wonderful milestone and to be able to celebrate it with the ones that made my journey a little easier. Words can’t express how much gratitude I have for their continued support. An April doesn’t go by that I don’t receive a card or phone call that wishes me well.
Lynn and I celebrated our 43 wedding anniversary this year. We have grandchildren, a great family and live the good life on a Nebraska farm. After having 4 daughters we were blessed to have six grandsons: Trenton, Trevor, Treyton, Mason, Morgan and Jarrett. Two miracles then came into our lives last year, identical twin granddaughters named Jaden Marie and Jenna Jill. On July 19, 2007, Mandy gave birth to a little girl, which was the icing on the cake. I was deeply honored and grateful to meet my new granddaughter, Jillian Lily.
We are rich with priceless grandchildren.
UPDATE MARCH 1, 2009:
Jill is a 32-year breast cancer survivor who wrote to give hope to others.
Jill’s health remains good, although she still has heart and lung problems associated with radiation she had as a child for asthma and then again for her cancer. “I loved (writing the story). It was worth it. People came out of the woodwork. I even got letter from several people I did not know.”
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