By Pat Lawrence
Lila Carroll Ramkey, Breast Cancer Survivor. |
The key to surviving breast cancer is early detection and treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, when cancer is confined
to the breast, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%. Early
detection reduces the need for therapeutic treatment, allowing women
to continue leading happy, productive lives. This is a breast cancer
story with a happy ending.
Lila Carroll Ramkey majored in social studies, but that’s not
why she enjoys social life so thoroughly. Diagnosed with breast
cancer in 1996, Lila fills her life with people and pleasures that
are important to her. Independent, practical and high-spirited,
she can look backward and forward to life lived in full measure.
Fresh out of college with a degree in secondary education, Lila says, ‘I
was broke. I didn’t have my teaching certificate yet and
I needed a job!” She took a secretarial position to pay
the bills. “I didn’t mind it so much. While I was student
teaching, I thought ‘Oh, my, when do we teach?’ There
was so much paperwork and bureaucracy. Between my idealism and my
finances, life ended up in a much different direction.”
After working with the Regional Development Authority, the young secretary
was offered a position in the Sheriff’s office. The work
and the people were interesting. Ultimately, Lila became a police
officer, serving for six years, working with rape victims and child
abuse investigations. “But, I began to wonder if there was anything
good going on in the world.”
She was offered a job as a paralegal for the Litigations Department
for Jackson Kelly law firm.
“Actually, skills for that job are very similar to ones used
in law enforcement - but the job is a little more tame!” She
stayed there six years, then marriage gave her an opportunity to get
involved in volunteer work. She was elected President of the
Charleston Area League of Women Voters, became involved in education
issues and was asked to run for a position on the Kanawha Board of
Education. She did, and won.
“From 1990-1994 it seemed like all we did was cut –schools,
personnel, programs. We had inherited a big deficit. But, by
the time my term was up, the district was in the black. I’m
proud we got the district to a degree of financial responsibility.
“
Consolidation of schools was a major focus at the time. Lila
says her greatest contribution might have been changing her mind on
the subject. “I came to see the impact consolidation would have
on other parts of the community. Although it made fiscal sense
for the school district, the community might suffer. Mine was the
swing vote. I voted for what seemed best for my constituents.”
Single again, she worked briefly at the Attorney General’s
office, but “I’m just not suited to ‘official’
business!” Liking the sound and the independence of the idea,
she opened a private investigation agency. “I learned the
ropes from a PI in Huntington, then started my business in Charleston.”
Her clients were attorneys working on civil cases rather than domestic
surveillance.
After a year and a half, as the business was just getting established,
Lila went in for her regular mammogram. “I can’t say enough
about mammograms. No one in my family had a history of cancer.” She
says, “I was stunned, shocked, disoriented, the day I was diagnosed
with breast cancer. I wanted to talk to someone who had been
through it.” That night she met the support group of Dr.
Ned Tiley and Reverend Esber Tweel. “By the time I had surgery,
I felt well-informed and well-supported.” Diagnosed January
16, her mastectomy was performed February 12.
She closed the detective agency. “I didn’t know what
I was going to do for the rest of my life, but I knew one thing I
was going to do now.” As a child, Lila daydreamed of seeing
Africa. Faced with mortality, she bought a single ticket to Zimbabwe.
“I went on safari in Botswana and went white water rafting on
the Zambezi River. It was everything I had imagined.”
Back home and looking for financial stability, friends encouraged
her to enter real estate. “It’s been perfect for
me. I work independently; there are lots of challenges and learning
opportunities. No day is the same.” She has built a successful
career as a RE/MAX agent and still has time for “social studies.”
Lila bought a houseboat that she keeps on the Kanawha River. “I
run it and I love it.” The boat gives her an excuse to
do what she loves most, gather her friends and cherish the time she
has to spend with them.
E-mail Lila Ramkey at Lilaramkey@aol.com
or visit Lilasoldit.com
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