90 Year Old Widow Finds Solace & Remission From Cancer Living On The Road With Family
Jumping in an RV and heading west isn’t what most people do when they receive a cancer diagnosis, but Norma isn’t your average woman. Just two days after her husband’s death, 90-year-old Norma received news that she had uterine cancer. She chose to trade out cancer treatment for the trip of a lifetime and travel the country with her son, Tim, and her daughter-in-law, Ramie.
Tim and Ramie began their nomadic lifestyle 15 years ago when they were offered a trailer and took off across the country to retrieve it. They have been traveling ever since and, when invited along for their current excursion, Norma happily obliged. Thus began the trip known as “Driving Miss Norma.”
Cruising in a 2011 36' Fleetwood Southwind with two slide outs, Norma navigates this new lifestyle both easily and comfortably. While Tim and Ramie take normal road safety precautions, overall Norma has no issues getting in or out of the rig, which was purchased specifically with her in mind. The rig boasts many comfortable features and contains two sleeping areas and one and a half baths.
Every morning at 9am sharp, Norma heads out of her room to begin her day. She enjoys a hot breakfast and a warm drink while completing writing in her daily journal. On low-key days when the group isn’t out adventuring, she reads mystery novels, knits, works jigsaw puzzles, and plays games on her iPad.
One essential part of the transition that gives Norma a feeling of emotional comfort is that she brought along her bedding from home and her couch pillows. She also enjoys the company of the family’s beautiful standard size poodle, Ringo. For safety, she has a shower chair and for comfort she utilizes a Euro chair, as her small frame is not easily supported by the RV’s couch.
As with any type of travel, there will always be setbacks and there is often something to fix. Ramie speaks of a variety of rig issues, which Tim usually fixes himself. “Whether it is the vacuum system not working for the toilet, plastic attachment piece breaking from refrigerator door, leaking window in driving rain, or constant gale force winds in one direction tearing the awning, there is always a project. [For example, today] the fan in the bathroom stopped working.”
Laundry is important, also. “Norma thought a washer/dryer would be nice!” relates Ramie. “It makes all the difference for us because we can do laundry any time and don't have to save quarters!” Making living arrangements easier for everyone, Norma has her own space towards the back of the RV. Here, she has her own sleeping area with a full bathroom while Ramie and Tim have a separate sleeping area and utilize the half bath.
At the start of their travels, their first goal was to get Norma out west to Mount Rushmore as quick as possible. Between mourning the loss of her husband, lack of energy, and suffering from the effects of her cancer, Tim and Ramie often feared that a simple cold could take Norma from them. Things have changed since then, and Ramie says that often times Norma has more energy than she and her husband do.
While Norma has always been adventurous, this change to an “RV lifestyle” has enabled her to blossom in an amazing way, according to Ramie. Upon setting out on their travels, Norma’s health was so poor that they did not think she would even make it to see Mount Rushmore. Over time, Ramie reports that Norma slowly started waking up and her health not only improved but it is better than it has been in years. With no complaints or pain, she appears to be very happy. Her travels have been not only medically therapeutic but psychologically therapeutic as well. When asked what she is most proud of, Norma says, “inspiring people right now”…and, in regard to her adventures, “Everyday is a new adventure. I don't know what else could be better than this!"
As far as their “favorite” adventures, “Feast Day” and hot air ballooning has topped the charts. Norma received the privilege of being able to watch the traditions of the sacred “Feast Day” in New Mexico, which is a Native American tradition. She has always been very interested in Native American culture, supporting them generously through charitable work throughout her life. The hot air balloon adventure itself is a heartwarming story, and was a Christmas gift to Norma.
After Norma’s husband passed away, Tim and Ramie continuously research various information and pamphlets on hot air balloons. When asked about it, Norma stated it was something they had always wanted to do but had never gotten around to it. That set in motion the search for a hot air balloon excursion with seats, which they found in Orlando. Ramie recalls the look on Norma’s face during the experience as “amazing”, saying she really enjoyed herself.
Some of their favorite places to visit have been in Florida, a state that offers a variety of parks. A stop at Henderson Beach State Park in the Panhandle allowed Norma to enjoy the white sand along the shore. Another favorite was the Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy because of all the animals roaming about. Ramie relates that it felt like a savannah in Africa. She and Tim were able to take their paddleboards out for a spin while Norma read on the beach.
Ultimately it all comes down to quality of life and a good routine. Every day, Norma enjoys a daily walks around the RV Park, socializing with other patrons. In evening, she usually enjoys a home cooked dinner courtesy of Tim and some television before retiring around 9:00pm.
With a change in a life dynamic always comes new joys and new difficulties but Ramie and Tim marvel every day at the new adventures to come. They say they have learned so much not only from the experience but also from Norma…changing both of them for the better.