Ice bound. A doctor's incredible battle for survival at the South Pole

Jerri Nielsen, a 46-year-old doctor from Ohio, took a sabbatical at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, one of the most remote places on Earth. The "Polies" endure six months of darkness and extreme winter temperatures, with no escape until spring. During the harsh winter of 1999, while responsible for the health of a team of researchers and support staff, Dr. Nielsen discovered a lump in her breast. After consulting with U.S. doctors via email, she performed a biopsy on herself and began chemotherapy in July, hoping to survive until her rescue in October. A daring Air National Guard operation successfully landed at the station, exchanged her for a replacement physician, and whisked her away. This account details her transformative experience at the Pole, where she realized her deep connection to the icy landscape. It is a thrilling adventure of scientists battling a hostile environment, an exploration of the dynamics within an isolated yet interconnected community, and a poignant narrative of love, loss, and one woman's journey of self-discovery through her extraordinary struggle for survival.