Review of First Survivor
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Nat Barie
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Review of First Survivor
[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]
First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough is Mark Unger’s account of his young son’s battle with cancer. Louis Unger was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma when he was three years old. First Survivor chronicles Louis and his family’s journey through the process of reaching the correct diagnosis, brutal chemotherapy treatments, and an eventual cure. Doctors told the Unger family there was a slim chance of Louis’ survival, but the family was determined to find the best available treatment.
Mark took detailed notes of Louis’ treatments each day, down to the doses Louis was given. Copies of the actual notes are included in the book, as well as emails Mark wrote to friends, family, and doctors. He referred to these notes when writing the book, so readers are privy to some of the exact thoughts he had as the situation unfolded. Although the doctors and nurses were doing great work caring for Louis, Mark quickly realized he would have to advocate for his son by pressing the medical professionals for information and answers. This advocacy (in addition to extensive research of treatment options and specialists) ultimately led to finding the doctors and clinical trial that saved Louis’ life.
Mark effectively conveys the complicated emotions that come along with such a harrowing situation. I felt like I was on the rollercoaster alongside the Unger family, feeling relief when progress was made and dread when the family got bad news. At one point, Mark referred to the medical news they continuously received as a tsunami. At times, the information was overwhelming to me as a reader, and I cannot begin to imagine how the Unger family felt during those moments. Mark and his wife were forced to parse through a lot of medical jargon, yet they tackled it head-on. In my opinion, Mark skillfully articulated this complex information so that someone with no medical background could follow along with their story.
I found the whole Unger family inspiring throughout the book. Of course, Mark and his wife, Mary Ellen, were courageous when caring for their sons, particularly in their advocacy for Louis. Louis is described as having a remarkable attitude throughout the ordeal, as he remained a smiling three-year-old child who just wanted to play. Louis’ older brother, Harry, also showed immense strength, as he was not only separated from his family for long periods but also worried about his younger brother without fully understanding the gravity of the situation. While the family went through unimaginable turmoil, their resilience and love for each other paved the way for triumph.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was well-written, although I found a few grammatical errors. I deducted one star only because some of these errors caused some confusion for me. Nevertheless, I learned a lot of information while reading this book, not only about neuroblastoma but about the human body in general. I think anyone could enjoy this inspiring story of sickness and hope. Readers may feel as if they are a part of the Unger family’s journey, experiencing the dread that comes with a cancer diagnosis and feeling the parents' determination to make sure their son sees his future.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough is Mark Unger’s account of his young son’s battle with cancer. Louis Unger was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma when he was three years old. First Survivor chronicles Louis and his family’s journey through the process of reaching the correct diagnosis, brutal chemotherapy treatments, and an eventual cure. Doctors told the Unger family there was a slim chance of Louis’ survival, but the family was determined to find the best available treatment.
Mark took detailed notes of Louis’ treatments each day, down to the doses Louis was given. Copies of the actual notes are included in the book, as well as emails Mark wrote to friends, family, and doctors. He referred to these notes when writing the book, so readers are privy to some of the exact thoughts he had as the situation unfolded. Although the doctors and nurses were doing great work caring for Louis, Mark quickly realized he would have to advocate for his son by pressing the medical professionals for information and answers. This advocacy (in addition to extensive research of treatment options and specialists) ultimately led to finding the doctors and clinical trial that saved Louis’ life.
Mark effectively conveys the complicated emotions that come along with such a harrowing situation. I felt like I was on the rollercoaster alongside the Unger family, feeling relief when progress was made and dread when the family got bad news. At one point, Mark referred to the medical news they continuously received as a tsunami. At times, the information was overwhelming to me as a reader, and I cannot begin to imagine how the Unger family felt during those moments. Mark and his wife were forced to parse through a lot of medical jargon, yet they tackled it head-on. In my opinion, Mark skillfully articulated this complex information so that someone with no medical background could follow along with their story.
I found the whole Unger family inspiring throughout the book. Of course, Mark and his wife, Mary Ellen, were courageous when caring for their sons, particularly in their advocacy for Louis. Louis is described as having a remarkable attitude throughout the ordeal, as he remained a smiling three-year-old child who just wanted to play. Louis’ older brother, Harry, also showed immense strength, as he was not only separated from his family for long periods but also worried about his younger brother without fully understanding the gravity of the situation. While the family went through unimaginable turmoil, their resilience and love for each other paved the way for triumph.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was well-written, although I found a few grammatical errors. I deducted one star only because some of these errors caused some confusion for me. Nevertheless, I learned a lot of information while reading this book, not only about neuroblastoma but about the human body in general. I think anyone could enjoy this inspiring story of sickness and hope. Readers may feel as if they are a part of the Unger family’s journey, experiencing the dread that comes with a cancer diagnosis and feeling the parents' determination to make sure their son sees his future.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Donny, Mary Grace and the Ugly Marbles by Catherine A. Pepe
