A beloved Iowa meteorologist has revealed she is battling an aggressive form of ALS, a devastating neurodegenerative disease that forced her to step back from her career. The diagnosis came after viewers repeatedly accused her of appearing intoxicated on air, prompting her to pursue medical testing.
Jeriann Ritter, the popular weather anchor at NBC affiliate WHO 13 in Des Moines since 2004, spoke candidly about her diagnosis in an emotional interview with the station Tuesday.
“I love talking about the weather,” the 49-year-old told colleague Keith Murphy, reflecting on her long and cherished career in broadcasting.
Jeriann Ritter, a longtime weather anchor at NBC affiliate WHO 13 in Des Moines since 2004, has opened up about her battle with an aggressive, incurable neurodegenerative disease.
“I don’t love talking about ALS. That’s what the doctors believe is causing my speech problems,” she said.
Ritter first noticed subtle changes in her speech in October. By the following month, viewers began sending concerned messages, with some even asking on social media, “Are you drunk?” after her broadcasts.
At first, Ritter visited her dentist, thinking her slurred speech was due to shifting teeth. However, doctors soon noticed signs that could indicate a stroke, setting off a series of medical evaluations. Ultimately, a neurologist spotted abnormalities on her tongue and diagnosed her with bulbar ALS.
“I wasn’t prepared to hear that,” Ritter told Murphy emotionally, acknowledging the harsh reality that there is currently no treatment or cure for the disease.
The married mother of two said she is holding onto hope as she faces her incurable illness.
“I really thought it was something minor. It’s a hard diagnosis. Right now, I pray every day for a miracle. I keep thinking, ‘It could be something else.’ It’s devastating that something that once came so easily is now so difficult. My greatest joy is talking, and it’s becoming hard to do — it’s kind of a bummer,” Ritter shared.
Bulbar ALS is a rapidly progressing form of the disease that attacks the muscles of the face, throat, and neck rather than the limbs, leading to serious challenges with speech, swallowing, and breathing, according to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.
A fixture at WHO 13 for 22 years, Ritter has turned to speech therapy in an effort to relax her muscles and improve her communication. While she admitted that her condition seems to be worsening, she remains determined to keep fighting.
Ritter has turned to speech therapy to relax her muscles and improve her speech, though she admits she feels like she’s “getting worse.”
“I’m probably done telling you about the weather, but I still have a lot to say,” the married mother of two told Murphy.
“I’m going to do what I’ve always done: I’m going to live, and I’m going to love. That’s what I’m doing. I didn’t forecast this storm hitting. It’s raining right now, and I’m just trying to find the sunshine and focus on the little things — living in the moment. I feel so wealthy because I have so much love.”
