A will of iron, great resilience and determination all describe how Rexanne Thompson coped with an ordeal during a recent snow storm.
After leaving Whanganui Hospital after a hip replacement operation with orders not to bend, stretch, run or walk very much, Rexanne arrived home to her isolated farmhouse in Watershed Rd in Hunterville where she lives with her son and two much loved dogs and two cats.
She was only home two days when the one of worst Antarctic storms hit the central region three weeks ago.
It was a complete white out. The power was out and phones lines were down. It was every rural person's nightmare, she said.
Her son Linus Merchant was filling in for her at her local service station job but when the storm hit he was stranded and couldn't get home.
The 25km was just too difficult, with the road deep in snow.
But he did try, Rexanne said.
"He walked about 7k m but it was ridiculous and a Powerco worker saved him."
Alone in the freezing uninsulated old farmhouse with just a small fire in the living room, Rexanne said even though it was frightening her survival instincts kicked in.
"Actually I didn't know I had any to be honest."
She started by trying to keep warm.
"Luckily the firewood was stacked just outside the living room window. I couldn't walk to get it or carry it but I managed to lean out of the window and pull bits up.''
Her bedroom was freezing with ice on the inside of the windows, and the bedclothes were damp.
"It was horrible, really horrible. Living in the dark with no hot water for days.
"Of course no mobile phone, that went flat really fast. I think I was lucky I still had bit of morphine left in my system".
"I lived on poached eggs and noodles and was not able to have hot coffee until help got through a week later.
"I'll never forget having hot coffee, nothing has ever cheered me up so much," Rexanne said.
"Nothing could get here, not helicopters not anything. I actually wondered if that was it for me."
Those long dark cold nights still haunt her, she said.
"They were truly terrifying."
Even now the road is still "slippery clay and mud".
Next week she goes back to the hospital for her check.
"I'm pretty good, I'm sure they'll be pleased with me. I was lucky I didn't fall and wreck all their good work."