90-Year-Old Diagnosed With Cancer Decides To Take To The Open Road
February 29, 2016
Norma was having a pretty awful week. Just days after saying goodbye to her best friend and husband of 67 years, she found out she had a large cancerous mass on her uterus. She'd already suspected the doctor's appointment would bring bad news. But she still listened patiently as her doctor outlined the treatment plan, starting with a major surgery -- one there was no guarantee she'd survive -- followed by months of chemo and radiation. But this spunky 90-year-old woman already had a plan of her own!
After the doctor finished running through the options, he asked Norma how she'd like to proceed. She simply replied,
“I’m 90-years-old, I’m hitting the road.”
Trading Cancer Treatments For Adventure
Norma's son and daughter-in-law were by her side and fully supportive as she announced her intentions. The sweet lady informed the stunned doctor and his medical student that instead of treatment, the three of them would use the couple's mobile RV home to travel the country, to which the doctor replied, "Right on!"
"As doctors,” he went on to explain, “we see what cancer treatment looks like everyday. 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!”
RELATED: This man is fighting breast cancer in a pink tutu
With all of that settled, Norma's son, Tim, his wife, Ramie, and Ringo, the family's poodle, set out for a family adventure of epic proportions! The Facebook page, Driving Miss Norma, was set up to chronicle their journeys. With nearly 68,000 followers, the page and this incredible woman have become a huge inspiration. It comes as a surprise to Norma who can't believe so many folks are interested in "little old me."
But it's impossible not to fall in love the woman who decided to appreciate the time God had left for her and spend it truly living!
"Keep praying every day and God will take care of you, even when it feels like you can’t care for yourself,” she says.
Making Memories
Norma and her kids have been enjoying the open road ever since. They've been all over the place -- exploring places like New Mexico, South Dakota, Louisiana, New Orleans and Florida, just to name a few. And they've been making wonderful memories along the way, stopping at National Parks, Disney World, the Corn Palace and anywhere and everywhere else that offers a special moment to be shared.
Credit: Facebook / Driving Miss NormaThis sweet soul was even brave enough to get a bird's eye view of God's beauty from the basket of a hot air balloon!
And as it turns out, life on the road has been the best medicine for Norma! She's been traveling for 6 months. And her family says that signs of her cancer have decreased and she's in pain.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Grandpa's Bucket List Has A Beautiful Surprise At The End
What an inspiration this sweet lady is. She's proof positive of the difference made by turning life's lemons into lemonade!
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8
h/t: GoodNews Network
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Rest and Renewal in the Busy Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 1
One of my least favorite four-letter words seems to be growing in popularity in modern culture. And I bet it’s one you’ve been hearing even more frequently in this bustling season too. Busy.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Rest and Renewal in the Busy Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 1
One of my least favorite four-letter words seems to be growing in popularity in modern culture. And I bet it’s one you’ve been hearing even more frequently in this bustling season too. Busy.
Past Stories
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Bill and Gloria Gaither Wintley Phipps - It Is Well With My Soul (From Bill Gloria Gaither Live)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Captivates with Heartfelt 'My Jesus' Live Performance
CCM Magazine 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold Shares Message of Faith During Nashville Concert
CCM Magazine Randall Goodgame’s ‘Scripture Hymnal’ | ‘In The Beginning’
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.