Tom and Karen Ritter have been married for 51 years. They have raised four daughters, moved across the country and faced countless obstacles along the way.
Karen, 75, says cancer was just another one of many hurdles to overcome.
“We have had a lot of problems and we have always worked together,” she said. “Every time you go through a battle and you come out victorious it brings you closer.”
The Ritters moved to Orcas in 1995. Before that, Tom, 78, worked for the National Park Service in areas like Glacier, Denali, Mesa Verde, the Rocky Mountains and Lake Meade. He eventually landed a job as a parks superintendent in California.
Tom’s story
In 2001, Tom was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His doctor on Orcas informed him that the best specialist was a urologist named James Gottesman in Seattle, but he added that it would be nearly impossible to get an appointment. All Karen heard was that he was the best. She described herself in a conversation with Gottesman’s receptionist as confident, very polite but firm and “I begged a little.”
In the end, she got the appointment.
“I believe in getting the best medical treatment available and all I need is a challenge,” she said. “I knew Tom had to see him … he’s my husband and I wanted to take care of him.”
By the spring, Tom had a biopsy that confirmed his cancer. In June 2011, he had an operation to remove the prostate. By September, Tom was feeling well enough to travel to Glen Canyon, Ariz., and get on a house boat with old friends.
He attributes his quick recovery to two things: early detection and carefully following the doctor’s instructions, including absolutely no lifting and drinking lots of water. For the last 13 years Tom has been cancer free.
Tom formed what he calls the prostrate legion: a network of 50 people who can share contacts and information about cancer.
Karen’s story
Just a year after Tom’s diagnosis, Karen’s doctor found skin cancer on the top of her ear.
She recalls telling him, “Take as much of my ear as you need to, I don’t care.”
The melanoma was caught early and still was on the surface and Karen has not had any other skin cancer issues. What she did learn from the experience is how critical it is to get checked.
“It is really important for people who spent years in the sun to see a doctor,” said Karen, who grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., playing on the beach under the sun.
This belief in visiting the doctor came in handy last year when Karen went in for her yearly mammogram.
“I am a great believer in mammograms,” she said. “There is talk in the news that it is not necessary, but I don’t think it’s true. Older women are at a higher risk. I go in every year.”
Last year Karen was four months late for her mammogram, which turned out to be a twist of fate in her favor. They discovered a lump so small Karen could not feel it. Turns out that little lump was cancerous. It was only three millimeters in size and when it was removed a month later it was 7 millimeters.
“That tells you how fast it grows,” said Karen, who is cancer free now.
If she had attended her regular appointment four months earlier they might not have detected it until it was too late.
Karen and Tom both say they are extremely thankful for the doctors and medical staff who helped to heal them. But their faith was the vital key in their recovery.
“We have a very strong faith and we believe that our prayers and the prayers for us were a major factor in being calm and resolving the issue,” said Tom.
