Review of First Survivor

[Julie Marie Basil]

[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Have you or someone you love been impacted by the terrible disease of cancer? Do you enjoy reading stories of hope that involve people pressing on despite difficult circumstances? Are you interested in patient advocacy and how asking lots of questions and advocating for yourself or a loved one in a medical situation can impact the care received? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should read First Survivor by Mark Unger. This book tells the inspirational story of how Mark and his wife Mary Ellen handled their son Louis’ cancer diagnosis at 3 years old and how their advocacy for him throughout his care led Louis to be the first child to survive a neuroblastoma relapse that occurred in the brain.
 
Mark shares his family’s story, starting with some of the initial signs that they noticed, which indicated something might be wrong with Louis. He depicts the difficulties and frustrations that they faced when Louis was first admitted to the hospital and had to undergo many tests before receiving a diagnosis and being able to start treatment aimed at eradicating his cancer. Throughout the book, Mark also shares notes he took as he was introduced to a whole new world of medical jargon and was trying to make sense of all of the medicines and treatment options for Louis. Additionally, he shares copies of emails and notes that he sent out to friends and family throughout Louis’ treatment when he was updating them on successes and setbacks.
 
One of the biggest lessons from this story is the importance of patient advocacy and seeking out medical care from specialists who can offer the best care for one’s condition. Mark researched online for more information about neuroblastoma as well as doctors who treated the disease whenever he had the time to do so, sometimes staying up late into the night. He personally called many doctors to seek out additional opinions in the wake of his son’s diagnosis. This research led him and his wife to decide to transfer Louis’ care from the local hospital near their home to Sloan Kettering Hospital, which was more than an hour away. Although the drive was much longer, Sloan Kettering had a whole department dedicated to treating children with neuroblastomas, in addition to having the most up-to-date protocols for treating the disease. Louis had a relapse after his initial rounds of treatment, and his parents advocated for him once again, which led him to receive an experimental treatment that ultimately saved his life. Their story shows how important it is to seek out multiple opinions and research the best options for care in the medical world in the United States.
 
Overall, I rate this story 4 out of 5 stars. It was a very inspiring story but was sometimes difficult to read due to changes in formatting, a few typos, and medical terminology that wasn’t well explained. There is a glossary with some of the medical terms at the end of the book, but in the e-book format, the terms were not linked to the glossary at the end in order to assist with comprehension. The formatting and style of the book are not consistent, but this may also may be attributed to the e-book format. For these issues, I am deducting one star, but I would still recommend this book.

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First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Gerry Steen]

What a great real-life story! Sometimes, to do something properly, we must do it ourselves. I admire Mark's determinination to find the right doctors and treatments for his son. To find the gold, we must keep digging for it until we find it. Neuroblastoma is a serious cancer. Anyone who's child is very ill can get good ideas from Mark's story. You made some good honest criticism to improve the format. Great review!

[Anu Anand]

Thank you for sharing your heartfelt review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger. Your description of the challenges faced by Louis and his family paints a poignant picture of their journey through his neuroblastoma diagnosis and treatment. I appreciate your emphasis on the importance of patient advocacy and seeking specialized care, which are crucial lessons from this inspiring story. Your critique of the book's formatting and medical terminology clarity adds a balanced perspective to your positive recommendation. It sounds like a deeply moving read for anyone touched by cancer or interested in patient advocacy.

[RJ Reviews]

A beautiful review for a heart-touching book. Lou wins all hearts. His parents win our admiration. Every moment of this book teaches us the importance of faith, love, determination, and dedication. I agree that the formatting issues and medical jargon may hamper the reading experience.

[Sarah Zain]

The book is full of overwhelming emotions and can be difficult to read. Your way of describing the details is perfect and expressive. Also, the honesty of your assessment is something I like as a reader. Thank you.

[Cristina-Ioana Toader]

Beautifully done. Your review gave me goosebumps. As a parent, I understand that when it comes to our children, we can become unstoppable in our mission to find a resolution. I can truly relate to that. However, this story sounds heart-wrenching, and I’m not sure I could handle reading it.

That said, I really appreciated your writing style and reasoning. Keep up the great work!

[Priya Murugesan]

I was already interested in this book. Your review strengthened my desire. A well-written review from you!

[Susan Ledezma]

As you've said, this story does sound really interesting, but I will have to consider reading this book since it truly does impact the reading experience when a book has mistakes and the formatting isn't great. It's hard to enjoy a book when what you're reading isn't clear. Thanks for the well written review!

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

Treating cancer is incredibly challenging, and I appreciate how you highlighted the intense periods and the emotional toll that caring for a cancer patient can take. It’s heartbreaking to see this happen to anyone, especially a child. I’ve been eager to read this book, and your review has given me a clear idea of what to expect, which makes me even more interested. Excellent review—keep up the great work!

[Jeff Kanda]

Cancer is very dangerous as it has taken a few people that I know. This story seems to be very informative on the topic of Cancer. You have written a really intriguing review. Keep it up!

[Martina Sette]

I want to read it so badly! The story is so inspiring and informative. Great review.

[Neha Panikar]

I've had some personal experience with cancer and unfortunately my person didn't survive. That was one of the reason to not pick this book, to avoid reliving the trauma. I'm glad I read your review though, and feel happy for the family. The observations and incidents of the author seem spot on and were very relatable to me.

[Adrian Bouknight]

Julie! Thank you for your honest review! I also found the medical terminology a bit daunting in this book. I was in tears as I navigated this one, having a daughter who spent 3 months in the NICU upon birth, and who also had to have a heart procedure before she was even 40 weeks old, I felt quite attached to young Louis and his family throughout their journey of fighting neuroblastoma. I appreciate the depth and conciseness of your review.

All the best!

[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

---

Have you or someone you love been impacted by the terrible disease of cancer? Do you enjoy reading stories of hope that involve people pressing on despite difficult circumstances? Are you interested in patient advocacy and how asking lots of questions and advocating for yourself or a loved one in a medical situation can impact the care received? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should read First Survivor by Mark Unger. This book tells the inspirational story of how Mark and his wife Mary Ellen handled their son Louis’ cancer diagnosis at 3 years old and how their advocacy for him throughout his care led Louis to be the first child to survive a neuroblastoma relapse that occurred in the brain.
 
Mark shares his family’s story, starting with some of the initial signs that they noticed, which indicated something might be wrong with Louis. He depicts the difficulties and frustrations that they faced when Louis was first admitted to the hospital and had to undergo many tests before receiving a diagnosis and being able to start treatment aimed at eradicating his cancer. Throughout the book, Mark also shares notes he took as he was introduced to a whole new world of medical jargon and was trying to make sense of all of the medicines and treatment options for Louis. Additionally, he shares copies of emails and notes that he sent out to friends and family throughout Louis’ treatment when he was updating them on successes and setbacks.
 
One of the biggest lessons from this story is the importance of patient advocacy and seeking out medical care from specialists who can offer the best care for one’s condition. Mark researched online for more information about neuroblastoma as well as doctors who treated the disease whenever he had the time to do so, sometimes staying up late into the night. He personally called many doctors to seek out additional opinions in the wake of his son’s diagnosis. This research led him and his wife to decide to transfer Louis’ care from the local hospital near their home to Sloan Kettering Hospital, which was more than an hour away. Although the drive was much longer, Sloan Kettering had a whole department dedicated to treating children with neuroblastomas, in addition to having the most up-to-date protocols for treating the disease. Louis had a relapse after his initial rounds of treatment, and his parents advocated for him once again, which led him to receive an experimental treatment that ultimately saved his life. Their story shows how important it is to seek out multiple opinions and research the best options for care in the medical world in the United States.
 
Overall, I rate this story 4 out of 5 stars. It was a very inspiring story but was sometimes difficult to read due to changes in formatting, a few typos, and medical terminology that wasn’t well explained. There is a glossary with some of the medical terms at the end of the book, but in the e-book format, the terms were not linked to the glossary at the end in order to assist with comprehension. The formatting and style of the book are not consistent, but this may also may be attributed to the e-book format. For these issues, I am deducting one star, but I would still recommend this book.

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First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[ZCReviews]

Your review did a great job of explaining the essence of the book. I think this book would be a great reading experience and a valuable tool for anyone supporting a loved one with a cancer diagnosis. Having someone advocate for you has saved a lot of lives, and reading this book may inspire someone to develop the determination needed to advocate effectively.

[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

---

Have you or someone you love been impacted by the terrible disease of cancer? Do you enjoy reading stories of hope that involve people pressing on despite difficult circumstances? Are you interested in patient advocacy and how asking lots of questions and advocating for yourself or a loved one in a medical situation can impact the care received? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should read First Survivor by Mark Unger. This book tells the inspirational story of how Mark and his wife Mary Ellen handled their son Louis’ cancer diagnosis at 3 years old and how their advocacy for him throughout his care led Louis to be the first child to survive a neuroblastoma relapse that occurred in the brain.
 
Mark shares his family’s story, starting with some of the initial signs that they noticed, which indicated something might be wrong with Louis. He depicts the difficulties and frustrations that they faced when Louis was first admitted to the hospital and had to undergo many tests before receiving a diagnosis and being able to start treatment aimed at eradicating his cancer. Throughout the book, Mark also shares notes he took as he was introduced to a whole new world of medical jargon and was trying to make sense of all of the medicines and treatment options for Louis. Additionally, he shares copies of emails and notes that he sent out to friends and family throughout Louis’ treatment when he was updating them on successes and setbacks.
 
One of the biggest lessons from this story is the importance of patient advocacy and seeking out medical care from specialists who can offer the best care for one’s condition. Mark researched online for more information about neuroblastoma as well as doctors who treated the disease whenever he had the time to do so, sometimes staying up late into the night. He personally called many doctors to seek out additional opinions in the wake of his son’s diagnosis. This research led him and his wife to decide to transfer Louis’ care from the local hospital near their home to Sloan Kettering Hospital, which was more than an hour away. Although the drive was much longer, Sloan Kettering had a whole department dedicated to treating children with neuroblastomas, in addition to having the most up-to-date protocols for treating the disease. Louis had a relapse after his initial rounds of treatment, and his parents advocated for him once again, which led him to receive an experimental treatment that ultimately saved his life. Their story shows how important it is to seek out multiple opinions and research the best options for care in the medical world in the United States.
 
Overall, I rate this story 4 out of 5 stars. It was a very inspiring story but was sometimes difficult to read due to changes in formatting, a few typos, and medical terminology that wasn’t well explained. There is a glossary with some of the medical terms at the end of the book, but in the e-book format, the terms were not linked to the glossary at the end in order to assist with comprehension. The formatting and style of the book are not consistent, but this may also may be attributed to the e-book format. For these issues, I am deducting one star, but I would still recommend this book.

******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Qwerty Writes]

Your review really touched my heart. I remember having friends or friend's parents' who suffered from such. It's a daunting experience! I don't think I'll be able to read this book but your review was pretty informative and brought powerful insight. Thank you for that!