Alexa Gourneau, a 19-year-old from the US, has decided to stop treatment for leukaemia after a decade of chemotherapy, blood transfusions and hospital stays, choosing instead to spend her remaining time living as normally as possible. She was diagnosed with the disease aged nine, and her family says the constant medical intervention had left her exhausted and unable to feel like herself, prompting her to prioritise quality of life over continued care. Her decision highlights the difficult choices faced by young people with terminal illness, and has been supported by her parents despite the pain of the situation.

Gourneau has drawn up a bucket list including everyday pleasures such as eating pasta with family, skateboarding, seeing friends and cuddling her dog, as well as trips to destinations including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, South Carolina, Universal Studios and Paris. Doctors have warned she may not survive to see her 20th birthday in January 2027. Her mother, Holly Vaughn, has taken time off work to spend more time with her, and the family has launched a GoFundMe to cover travel and living costs while they make the most of the time they have left.