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The Fairbanks North Star Borough has been my home for 26 years. Occasionally, a newcomer asks me the inevitable question, “Why do you stay here when you could be somewhere warmer?” When it’s 40 below, and I’m literally shoving my three 125-pound dogs out the door to do their business, that’s when I ask myself that very same question. Then I remember.

Prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2007, the only doctor who saw me with any regularity was Dr. John Joosse, an incredible orthopedist who has kept me ambulatory for many years.

Against all odds, he has mended parts of my body that I have over-worked, slammed to the icy ground, tumbled down the stairs or forgot to remove from the car door before closing it. Despite his gallant efforts, I challenge his gifts of healing year after year. Let’s face it, when a doctor has put Humpty Dumpty back together as many times as he has, it’s terrifying to imagine anyone else attempting the feat.

Years ago, pre-Fairbanks, while sitting in a dental office awaiting my turn with a dentist who found the Spanish Inquisition humorous, I read an article stating that among professionals, dentists hold the highest rate for suicide. I wondered — Were they all suicides or just made to look like suicides? When I came to Fairbanks, I met Dr. Ronald Teel, patience personified. Until him, all dentists reminded me of the Spanish Inquisition throwback. The fact is, when Dr. Teel announces his retirement, I’ll probably end up on the annual stalkers list when it’s time for my checkup.

When I found a lump in my breast in July 2007, my respect and admiration for the medical community of Fairbanks reached a new level. I made an appointment with Physician’s Assistant Eric Meffley at the Tanana Valley Clinic. He took immediate action, ordering the appropriate tests and keeping me promptly informed of all results.

After the mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy confirmed the bad news, he set up an appointment with the incredible surgeon, Dr. Jon Liebermann and PA Jo Miller. A few weeks after the surgery, I went to the incomparable Dr. Michael Carroll, medical oncologist and nurse Nancy Schupp. Finally, I met the wonderful Dr. Essam Shihadeh, radiology oncologist, and his amazing staff.

The nurses, PAs, technicians and office personnel who work in these offices were not only outstanding professionals but truly delightful in comforting me, answering all of my questions and holding my hand when I obviously needed it. These three doctors and their phenomenal staffs worked with me as a team to decide on the best treatment for my cancer.

Despite living thousands miles away from family, I never felt afraid, uninformed or alone because of these compassionate, dedicated people. When I developed a nasty infection, Dr. Carroll’s nurses comforted me during those greenest hours as my body went thought its “two exits, no waiting” stages, holding my hair as I contemplated the theory of water displacement by hurling chunks in the commode.

As horrified as I was about the disgusting things my body spewed, these angels of mercy never flinched, but held on to me like I was precious porcelain. How much warmer can people get?

The Fairbanks medical community has always treated me with the utmost respect, but perhaps I noticed it more during that time. Thinking back about this special treatment I now ask myself, how could it have been otherwise? Our medical community is no different than our other communities; we help each other. We take the time to care for one another. We are a small network of communities notorious for holding the rest of the country up to our standards and more often than not, finding ourselves very fortunate, indeed.

Our medical professionals are a significant reason for that attitude.

The experiences of which I speak are not anomalies; most people I know have similar experiences with their medical/dental professionals here. We even have a few “horror” stories we like to share, like “Spanish Inquisition guy,” while chatting in waiting rooms. And, ultimately, we know without saying it, we remain here for one of the best and most deliberate reasons of all — we are medically very well cared for.

It is very easy to doubt what we have in our own backyards and to wish we had something better, but with all sincerity, I can’t imagine leaving this place for some place warmer; it simply doesn’t exist.