The email that I just received says; Mr. Beckendorf, our doctors have examined your tests results and we now need for you to have an echocardiogram, a stress test and we also need additional explanations from your doctor.
I have already had an EKG, blood tests which looked at over thirty different things, urine tests- examining 16 different components, HIV test, blood type test, I completed an extensive family medical history form and I received several vaccinations. Not to mention that I endured a thorough physical examine by my doctor, including all of those embarrassing procedures which I won’t describe. Plus I have had a complete dental examine but I have to return to the dentist’s office next week to have a couple of cavities taken care of.
So why am I giving you my personal medical history in my journal about meteorology in Antarctica???
To go work in Antarctica you don’t just book a flight and head south, you must jump through numerous hoops. My latest hoop is to pass all of these medical test!!! One of the requirements for deployment is a healthy body and healthy teeth- no cavities allowed on the Ice!!! Antarctica is so remote and access in and out is often limited by severe weather, scientists (and in my case, science teachers) are required to go through a battery of tests to make sure they are healthy before being allowed to deploy to The Ice. All of the tests results, family history, EKG charts, dental X-rays, blood and urine test were sent to Raytheon, the contractor for Antarctic services. My medical results were then examined by their doctors.
The email I just received was sent to me after they examined the results of all my medical exams and forms. All of the results showed that I am healthy but a few years ago I had an infection around my heart, so Raytheon’s doctors are now asking for me to have these additional medical tests completed to make sure I am healthy enough to make the trip.
I just finished another day of teaching 8th graders and commuting 36 miles on my bicycle, you would think that would be enough of a stress test, but next week I get to run on a treadmill with wires stuck to my chest, monitoring my heart. Someone else will look at my heart with sound waves and the dentist will drill out my cavities. It is all quite a hassle, but to be able to work in Antarctica with the meteorologists from Wisconsin is certainly worth all the hassle. As George, one of the meteorologist says, it is all part of the experiment.