90-year-old woman refuses cancer treatment to travel the world

A 90-year-old woman diagnosed with cancer refused potentially life-saving treatment to travel the world instead. For the past six months Norma has been on the road in a campervan with son Tim, daughter-in-law Ramie and Ringo the poodle.

It all started the day after her husband of 67 years, Leo, was admitted to a hospice. After some routine tests detected blood in Norma's urine, medics then discovered a large cancerous mass on her uterus.

Two days after Leo passed away, Norma and her family found themselves back at the doctors discussing her treatment options.

Writing on Facebook, Ramie said: "You know the drill: surgery, then radiation and chemo in some order.

"When the doctor was finished he asked her how she would like to proceed.

"A tiny woman at 101 pounds and under five-feet tall, an exhausted Norma looked the young doctor dead in the eye and with the strongest voice she could muster, said, ‘I’m 90-years-old, I’m hitting the road.’

"The doc and the confused first-day medical student who was shadowing him looked at Tim (her son) and me (her daughter-in-law, Ramie) for some clarification.

"We had had time to talk to Norma beforehand about the likelihood that there would be some bad news coming from the doctor.

"She made it VERY clear to us that she had no interest in any treatment.

"We ‘got it’ and were in complete support of her decision."

Ramie told how there was "no way" Norma could live at home without Leo, given they had been "a well-oiled team" for so many years.

Instead, her children decided to take her away on the adventure of a lifetime.

Ramie continued: "Having recently read Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (please put this on your reading list) our best idea was to take her on the road with us.

"Norma currently is not in pain, her mind is sharp, she loves to travel, and she is remarkably easy to be around.

"We explained to the well-meaning doctor and his student that we live in an RV and that we will be taking her wherever she wants to go.

"He didn’t hesitate to say, 'RIGHT ON!'

"We asked if he thought us irresponsible for this approach.

"His reply was telling."

The doctor told Norma and her family there was "no guarantee" Norma would survive surgery to remove the mass and encouraged them to go on their trip.

For the past six months Norma and her family have visited several national parks, travelled from the US to China and Europe and even rode a hot air balloon.

Norma's cancer symptoms have reduced so she is not in any pain and she continues to maintain a positive outlook on life.

Ramie and Tim set up a Facebook page called Driving Miss Norma to keep track of her travels.

People from all over the world follow her adventures.

Emer McCudden recently sent greetings from Ireland, while Kimberly Moreschi posted: "Keep going Miss Norma. I am living vicariously through your adventures! Your an inspiration and a hero to so many!"

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