To honor the love of his life, a gift of gratitude

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

[4 min read]

After a whirlwind romance that followed a chance meeting, Jim and Sabine Quitsland were married for 54 years.
In 2022, after a long journey, Sabine succumbed to cancer.
In Sabine's memory and in gratitude for her care, Jim made a gift to Swedish supporting the Paul G. Allen Research Center and the transformation of cancer care and research.

It’s not entirely far-fetched to say that Jim Quitslund fell for his future wife, Sabine, before he ever laid eyes on her. It was 1968 and Jim attended a book reading at Oxford, where he was working on his doctoral dissertation.

“I heard this voice from the back of the room. It wasn’t just an interesting voice, but an interesting mind. Her question wasn’t so much a question … but a lot more,” Jim recalls.
Sabine was grilling the author on details from his book.

A few weeks later, Jim went to his neighborhood bookstore and, while reaching for a book on a shelf, heard that voice from the reading in another part of the shop.

“So, I set off to find this person,” Jim says.

There was Sabine, a bookseller on loan from her employer in Göttingen, Germany.

Jim was, to say the least, mesmerized. He remembers “her flashing eyes and her wonderful smile” during their first face-to-face encounter.

They began dating the next day. Four months later, they were married.

Jim and Sabine Quitslund (Sabine is in the photo at right. Jim is in the photo above.) were married for 54 years, making their home on the East Coast and, since 1990, on Bainbridge Island, before Sabine succumbed to sarcoma after a long battle with this rare type of cancer.

But Jim, 83, firmly believes his wife got additional time and dramatically improved quality of life because of the level of care and compassion she received at Swedish Cancer Institute under the watch of Joseph Sniezek, M.D., FACS, medical director of head and neck endocrine surgery.

Sabine, of course, is never far from his mind. The same holds true for the kindness, empathy, and quality of care his wife and family received from Swedish.

Jim recently committed to a six-figure endowment fund with Swedish Foundation to honor not only his wife but all those at Swedish who gave such good care to her and other family members who have been cancer patients.

“I’m paying tribute to the cancer care my family has received from Swedish going back to the 1960s,” he says.

Jim’s generous donation came after a tour of Swedish’s Paul G. Allen Research Center, where researchers are dedicated to improving the experience of every cancer patient by developing leading advances in cancer preparation, detection, and treatment. Their focus is to drive breakthroughs by conducting clinic trials and translational research.

This certainly resonated with Jim after accompanying Sabine on her journey.

“I liked how they were transforming an existing space for new procedures and functions,” he says. “I am very happy to be supporting an initiative that is entirely for science and patient care, and not for show.”

In 2009, Sabine noticed a small bump on her left collarbone while the two were in her native Germany. When they returned home, imaging revealed that she had sarcoma, a broad group of cancers that can begin in the bones and connective tissues.

Sabine had surgery to remove the mass and subsequent radiation treatment. In 2016, an MRI revealed another mass that required yet another surgery. In 2020, the Quitslunds decided to come to Swedish. That decision to move Sabine to the Swedish Cancer Institute changed everything for the Quitslunds, especially after meeting Dr. Sniezek.

“There we were, in the hands of Dr. Sniezek with his character, commitment, and thoughtful use of ultrasound as the first step toward diagnosis,” Jim says.

Sabine ended up having two additional surgeries as well as Cyberknife treatment, which is a noninvasive, robotic radiotherapy device used to treat cancerous and noncancerous tumors. It wasn’t just Sabine who was in good hands, either.

“He respected me, too,” Jim says. “I think sometimes the partners of cancer patients feel invisible if not unwelcome to physicians. Dr. Sniezek was not like that.”

In fact, the Quitslunds had a large community of specialists looking after them, from radiologists to thoracic and medical oncologists who helped provide care for them, as Swedish oncologists have cared for members of Jim’s family dating back some 60 years.

But in January of 2022, “it was clear that something was going on with Sabine,” Jim says.

An ultrasound and MRI revealed a drastic spread of the cancer.

“Sarcoma was doing what sarcoma does,” Jim laments. On Feb. 18, 2022, Sabine quietly passed away at the age of 76.

Today, Jim is involved in volunteer and church work and stays active, both as a cyclist and classical pianist. He remains engaged with the cultural life of Germany, which he and Sabine shared.

Sabine, of course, is never far from his mind. The same holds true for the kindness, empathy, and quality of care his wife and family received from Swedish.

“The support that she got from Dr. Sniezek, his team, and the entire hospital staff set a new standard for us and for me as I live on,” Jim says. “We both felt completely understood by specialists who understood our values, background, and the lifeforce within each of us. It moved us deeply and gave us peace of mind to have caregivers who are at once skilled, experienced, compassionate, and realistic.”

Learn more and find a physician or advanced care practitioner (ACP)

The multidisciplinary team at the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute offers inclusive care that provides advanced treatment and compassionate support to meet your needs during a challenging time. To learn more, visit our website. You can also call 1-855-XCANCER (1-855-922-6237) to talk to someone or make an appointment.

Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider. You can also connect virtually with your provider to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.

About the Swedish Foundation

Your generous gift helps support a healthy tomorrow for everyone in every communty we serve. Learn about more ways to give to the Swedish Foundation or make a direct donation online at swedishfoundation.org. You can also contact the Foundation at 206-368-2738 or email foundation@swedish.org. Thank you for helping us shape the future of healthcare. We can’t do it without you.

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