Review of First Survivor

[Nicole Scremin]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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First Survivor, written by Mark Unger, was a moving true account of what his son, Louis, and their entire family endured when Louis was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of three. From the first visit to the pediatrician when the parents noticed something “off” with their 3-year-old, through the diagnosis and ensuing treatment, the author brings the reader into his and his family’s personal lives and one of every parent’s biggest fears.
This book was beautifully written. While reading, you cried with the family on the bad days and smiled and cheered on the few good days as Louis waited for the gut-wrenching diagnosis and the duration of the treatment plans. Louis’s parents, Mark and Mary Ellen, fought the fight of their lives researching cancer, possible treatment plans, and which hospitals and doctors are the best to give their son the most educated and thought-out chance of survival possible. The book is written as an expansion of Mark’s constant note-taking and diary entries as the cancer diagnosis is first introduced as a possibility and throughout their son's treatment course.
Within the book, there is a lot of medical terminology and description of various medical procedures, and it could be easy for the reader to glaze over without understanding what is medically happening. I would urge readers of this book to delve in and grasp the medical knowledge that this father taught himself to fight and advocate for his son. If some of the medical terms are still daunting, the author provides a well-written glossary of various procedures, medications, and terminology at the end of the book that breaks it all down for any reader to understand.
I would strongly recommend this book to any reader, but most importantly to any parent who may have a child who is diagnosed with cancer. This book, possibly unintentionally, provides a road map to parents who may find themselves faced with a similar diagnosis in a child. It proves that advocating for yourself or a loved one when faced with a new disease ultimately pays off.
I would enthusiastically rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars, as it was well written and a wonderful tribute to parents and family members who refuse to give up when told all hope is lost.

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First Survivor
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[Enjani Matendeko]

I don't know the best word to use to describe Louis. But he's a child worth writing a story about. He survived very serious cancer attacks that could have easily cost him his life. However, he survived. That was really amazing.

[David Samanthaa]

First Survivor is a deeply moving account of a young boy’s triumph over a life-threatening illness. Louis Unger’s journey, as recounted by his father Mark, is nothing short of miraculous

[Grace Jane]

A powerful call to action for increased awareness and funding for cancer research.