Review of First Survivor

Post by **Radiant3** » 03 Jan 2024, 10:42

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

5 out of 5 stars

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Mark Unger was born in Solingen, Germany. He and his family moved to the United States in 1978, when he was a child. Presently, he is the director and owner of Unger Global, a manufacturing company.

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough is a nonfiction book written by Mark Unger, about his son Louis's battle with cancer. The book chronicles the tribulations that Louis and his entire family went through during his struggle with cancer. According to the author, "My goal is to engage and inspire the reader to understand the power of advocacy while never losing hope even if a diagnosis is very poor,”

In August of 2001, Mary Ellen noticed that her son Louis was walking strangely. Lately, he had also become less talkative. She took him to see his pediatrician, Dr. Gregory Germain, who referred him to a pediatric orthopedist, Dr. Tom Renshaw, at Yale School of Medicine. After X-rays and physical examinations, Louis was diagnosed with a rare condition called "Perthes' disease".

During the months of September and October, Louis became more listless and his health continued to deteriorate. Mary Ellen took him to see the pediatric orthopedist and "follow-up with routine X-rays" was taken. The doctors were concerned about the results of the X-rays. Dr Germain recommended that they immediately go to the Children's Emergency Room at the Yale New Haven Hospital, where he would meet them.

After several tests at the hospital, another diagnosis was made, one with a very low rate of survival. This new diagnosis would devastate the family and turn their whole world upside down. This would lead to an extensive number of tests, medications, and treatments. To cope with and regain some semblance of control, Mark Unger started a journal about the medications being administered, treatment options, test results, and other things about the treatment protocol. He documented everything. This helped the family to be organized, which they needed to be, to ensure that they could provide care and support for Louis.

Louis continued to receive treatment at Yale New Haven Hospital. He had to undergo several procedures like bone marrow biopsies and treatments with a variety of medications, many of which were very painful and had harmful effects. However, Louis's father was relentless in his research and pursuit of the best treatment options available, as well as, the best doctors who specialized in treating this disease. Filled with continuous trepidation, the family would travel an emotional roller-coaster throughout the entire period.

There were several things that I liked about the book. It was simple and easy to follow along, at the same time, the emotional tone of the book was also conveyed. I appreciated how everything was told in chronological order. This helped me to follow along with the events that took place. The detailed timeline at the end of the book was a helpful addition because it gave the precise time when things took place. The definition of medical terms and the list of resources for support at the end of the book were also useful additions.

I liked the fact that the author chose to include the lists of medications and treatments in the book. This served several purposes. First of all, it provides the reader with a deeper insight into the reality of this medical condition and the sheer number of medications and tests that Loius had to endure, especially for a three-year-old child. Secondly, it provides a deeper understanding and guide for families who may be going through the same thing. The list would help them to understand and be aware of what they can expect if they are now starting a similar and frightening journey.

I truly admired the relentless approach of the parents. They were not intimidated by the medical world and the doctors. They researched, asked questions, and worked as one. They were determined not to give up. Their very strong stance on advocating for their son played a pivotal role in the medical treatment he received and his increased chance of success, as well as, the treatment protocol for future patients with the same medical condition.

I appreciated the methodology the author used in facing and documenting his experience. The author states that the book comes from a journal he kept at the time. He took lots of notes and these helped him and his wife "to keep track of all the information, test results, treatment options, doctors' thoughts, and online information. They also served as the foundation of my book." This methodology can also be adopted and applied by others suffering from any disease.

I did not find anything negative about the book. It is well-written, inspirational, and motivational. I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book for families of individuals and people who may be diagnosed with cancer or any type of disease.

******
First Survivor
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Chinazo Anozie · Post by **Chinazo Anozie** » 23 Jan 2024, 00:17

This is a great and well-detailed review of the book. It's sad that Louis had to go through so much at such a young age. However, I don't read nonfiction, so I'll be skipping this one.

Post by **Mari Thompson** » 23 Jan 2024, 22:07

I am going to look up Perthes’ disease now. It sounds horrible. I’m also wondering if the three year old Louis is still alive? I’m not usually a reader of this type of book but your review makes it sound very informational and tolerable. Thanks for the great review and recommendation.

Cara Wilding · Post by **Cara Wilding** » 23 Jan 2024, 22:33

Radiant3 wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 10:42 [Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough is a nonfiction book written by Mark Unger, about his son Louis's battle with cancer. The book chronicles the tribulations that Louis and his entire family went through during his struggle with cancer. According to the author, "My goal is to engage and inspire the reader to understand the power of advocacy while never losing hope even if a diagnosis is very poor,”

There were several things that I liked about the book. It was simple and easy to follow along, at the same time, the emotional tone of the book was also conveyed. I appreciated how everything was told in chronological order. This helped me to follow along with the events that took place. The detailed timeline at the end of the book was a helpful addition because it gave the precise time when things took place. The definition of medical terms and the list of resources for support at the end of the book were also useful additions.

I truly admired the relentless approach of the parents. They were not intimidated by the medical world and the doctors. They researched, asked questions, and worked as one. They were determined not to give up. Their very strong stance on advocating for their son played a pivotal role in the medical treatment he received and his increased chance of success, as well as, the treatment protocol for future patients with the same medical condition.

This is such a heartbreaking yet inspiring story. Your review was very detailed, and I appreciated your focus on what you enjoyed most about the book. I can see how easy it would be to admire these parents and their efforts. I enjoyed reading your review! Until next time...

Post by **Radiant3** » 24 Jan 2024, 20:39

Chinazo Anozie wrote: ↑23 Jan 2024, 00:17 This is a great and well-detailed review of the book. It's sad that Louis had to go through so much at such a young age. However, I don't read nonfiction, so I'll be skipping this one.

Thank you for your kind words. The strength he showed through the whole ordeal was truly remarkable and admirable. I