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Terminally Ill Woman to Make History in Space
17 Feb
Summary
- Pam Harter, 69, to be first terminally ill person in space.
- She was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, PXE.
- Her flight aims to reduce hospice care stigma.
Pam Harter, a 69-year-old from Napa Valley, is poised to make history as the first terminally ill individual to journey into space. She has been diagnosed with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), an exceptionally rare genetic disorder affecting only a small number of Americans, which causes arteries to calcify and become brittle.
With no cure for PXE, Harter's vascular system has become increasingly blocked, leading doctors to recommend against further risky surgeries. Instead, she chose to enjoy her remaining time traveling the world with her husband, Todd Harter.
During a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Harter expressed her desire to be the first hospice patient in space. This bold statement led to an unexpected connection with Blue Origin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's space tourism company.
Following a swift application process, Harter is preparing for her flight, though a specific launch date has not yet been scheduled. Blue Origin has paused its flights for at least two years for NASA contracts, but Harter's contact has assured her preparations should continue.
Harter hopes her flight will significantly reduce the stigma associated with hospice care and demonstrate what terminally ill patients can achieve.
