Dr. Jerri Nielsen: "Now I Go On"

I too wish that it was a slow news week - with all the hub-bub about Michael Jackson's death - Farrah Fawcett's death and Jerri's death were overshadowed by the tabloid king's death!!!

Yes I am sorry that Michael died but I do not think his death is more deserving, if you will, of headlines than Jerri's or Farrah's death.  We had just watched Farrah's documentary of her illness, treatment and struggle a few weeks ago so we knew what her condition was and we had learned of Jerri's struggle with being so far away from treatment that she had to administer chemo to herself!!  What true superstars these ladies were and true icons to be admired and looked up to.  These two very special ladies were our heroes.  All of us survivors are fighters and we have won the battle so far and will continue to fight each obstacle that comes before us. 

Thank you Farrah and Jerri for sharing your personal story with so many of us - you have given so many people the courage to push on.

Thanks for reminding me of Jerri's story, Phyllis - and of the great lessons she taught us. I totally believe in action over worry - knowledge over ignorance. Worry doesn't do anything but make you feel bad. If you learn about the challenge you're facing, you can deal with it - "go on" with it. Thanks, Jerri. And thanks, Phyllis, for bearing witness to this brave woman's death. PJH

Thanks for sharing this, Phyllis. What you have quoted from Jerri's book is wonderfully inspiring. I will look for this book and read it for myself.

It would be nice if the media were to pay more attention to worthy people. A couple of weeks ago here in Oz a very special cancer surgeon died (of cancer, as it happens) and I couldn't help comparing the maudlin and extensive coverage of Michael Jackson's death with that of this doctor's death. It really makes me worry for the values of our young when truly good people are not deemed as newsworthy as entertainers.

Sue

Phyllis,

Thank you so much for the wonderful tribute to Dr. Jerri Neilsen.  I would much rather have heard newscasts about her death than all the hype about Michael Jackson's untimely death. 

An IBC survivor

I just blogged about her on my blog too, because she was the bravest breast cancer survivor of us all. I read her book also and it made me humble at my own treatments. I was a 10 minute warm car drive to cutting edge medicine to treat my breast cancer, not snowbound and freezing. She was a courageous woman and although most of us would never even consider going to the South Pole in the first place, she showed us all what survivorship is all about.

i didn't know she had died. The News in my area didn't even mention her death. I too wish it had happened on a slow news week, she deserved to be remembered in a much bigger way.

Thank you, everyone for your comments.  If you haven't read IceBound, you will find it an informative and inspiring story.  Although reading it in the knowledge that Jerri Nielsen Fitzgerald died ten years after her diagnosis, will add a poignancy to the reading, It is still uplifting to think of the healthy years she had because of her determination and the help of her friends at the Pole and a full supporting cast in the outside world.

I was very sorry to hear about her death also. She was very brave in her battle aqainst cancer. May she rest in peace.