I picked this book up at a box sale at Book Closeouts. I've been interested in reading it for a while so I grabbed it before anyone else could get their hands on it!!

From Chapters:
During the winter of 1999, Dr. Jerri Nielsen, the only physician on a staff of forty-one people, discovered a lump in her breast. Consulting via satellite e-mail with doctors in the United States, she was forced to perform a biopsy and treat herself with chemotherapy in order to ensure that she could survive until conditions permitted her rescue. She was eventually rescued by the Air National Guard. Dr. Jerri Nielsen's story of her transforming experiences is a thrilling adventure and moving drama. She has written a new chapter for this edition. Since the publication of Ice Bound in hardcover in January 2000, Dr. Nielsen has inspired people throughout the country, met hundreds of fans, received numerous awards including "Irish American of the Year"' which was presented to her by Hillary Clinton, as well as tremendous praise from the media.

As a doctor on the South Pole, Nielson explains what you experience when you "winter over" at the pole. Polies that winter over are essentially stuck at the South Pole for a year - without anyone going in or out of the station, including supplies, during a South Pole winter (approximately February to September). During the 1999 stay over the Nielson does, there are 41 other Polies wintering over.

Nielson first paints a picture of her life before she discusses anything about the Pole so that the reader can understand where she comes from. Her past is marked with a horrible marriage, including a real jerk of an ex-husband, and three teenage children that will not talk to her. Something about her story doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if it's because I've been lucky enough never to have known anyone in that type of relationship. I think the main problem was that once the children found out their mother had cancer, they did not contact her and did not even want to talk to her.

Nielson then talks about what life is like at the bottom of the world. The way these people come together as a community is amazing. About half way through her stay, Nielson finds a lump in her breast. She then has to deal with the struggle as the only doctor on the base, being sick, and wondering if she has cancer or not.

This book is about survival: mental and physical. It's a truly amazing story, both from surviving disease and the harsh conditions of the pole. I stayed up quite late a few nights ago finishing it! I recommend this book!

This book is with me

This book tells the story of a doctor who goes to the South Pole. While she is 'wintering' over she finds a lump in her breast and discovers it to be breast cancer. The people who 'winter' over are extraordinary people to begin with and Dr. Nielson's story is phenomenal. The information about the South Pole is fascinating and how the people come together to form a cohesive unit is interesting.

Dr. Nielson is required to perform breast biopsies and tissue samples on herself with informed help from her colleagues none of whom are trained medical personnel. She then starts on chemotherapy. The medical information and possible diagnoses are all stated matter-of-factly. What also comes through is the fear and terror associated with cancer. These are presented as a series of e-mails with her oncologist.

She also presents her personal life;a divorce from a jerk and her non-relationship with her children. I do not understand her motive for continually bringing up her relationship with her children. I sincerely hope it is not to 'guilt' them. I also do not understand if she wished a relationship why she would go to the South Pole in the first place where she would not be able to even try to mend fences. I felt the personal references should probably been dealt with once and then 'forgotten'.

Giving to Breeze144 today!

Received this at the last meet-up but forgot to journal it until now! Sorry! And Thank you!!!