90-year-old chooses travelling over medication, is healed
A 90-year-old woman from America opted to travel rather than be treated for cancer. Little did she know that travelling would bring her much more than pleasure, but also healing.
Being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease like cancer can be so traumatic. It could either mean spending your last days in pain, feeling sorry for yourself, or living life to the fullest and ticking off as many things on your bucket list as possible.
While some would seek the best medical care there is in the world, a 90-year-old woman from northern Michigan in America did something out of the ordinary.
She chose to spend her last days traveling the world with her son and daughter-in-law.
According to a Facebook page called "Driving Miss Norma", Norma learned that she had a tumour on her uterus two days after the passing of her husband Leo.
She was advised by doctors to have surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but refused, opting to live her last days on the road.
"Two days after Leo died we found ourselves sitting in an OB/GYN office talking about treatment options. 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,” Norma's son said in a Facebook post.
"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. “As doctors,” he said, “we see what cancer treatment looks like every day. ICU, nursing homes, awful side effects and honestly, there is no guarantee she will survive the initial surgery to remove the mass. You are doing exactly what I would want to do in this situation. Have a fantastic trip!” he added.
Norma has traveled to a lot of places, including California, Disney World in Florida, and Europe.
The 90-year-old woman, who will be turning 91 in March, is allegedly doing well.
"Norma currently is not in pain, her mind is sharp, she loves to travel, and she is remarkably easy to be around," the son said.
Do you have a bucket list? What have you crossed off it so far? Let Barney know.