Review of First Survivor
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Munmun Samanta
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Review of First Survivor
[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]
First Survivor by Mark Unger
"Hearing a chorus of screaming children was hard, but unavoidable. They had to endure pain if they were to survive." Page 100
Surviving is an arduous journey, and the road is not easy to cross. But giving up cannot solve the problem and no one can leave the battlefield until shedding the last breath. Endurance is the cornerstone of every success story and "First Survivor" by Mark Unger does not break the rule.
"There are no dead ends, only new paths."
Keeping faith in the new path, the family started their battle to cure their three-year-old son Louis, diagnosed with the lethal blow of neuroblastoma, which had spread to the brain. It is a serious pediatric cancer that omens zero chance of survival. This book is a true story that chronicles the struggle of the Unger family and the courage and tenacity that they show to heal their younger son, Louis. There was no room for tears as the only focus was on the medical procedures. If you go through this heart-wrenching story you will feel as if you are reading a medical journal though the author has acknowledged at the very beginning that "This is not a medical journal." Page 53
The painstaking description only hints at the persistence that the parents along with their sons took to save the family. The tumour in the adrenal gland on Louis's left side had cancer cells i.e., Neuroblastoma stage four. And the journey starts from there. Two brothers, Harry, and Louis, who once loved to explore nature freely, were suddenly thrown into a catastrophe where big brother had to support the little one. An arranged life suddenly lost track and an avalanche of fear and grief struck them. But they did not let them break till the battle ended for them to win. And this positive message that beams throughout this emergency medical journey makes this book a true story of life. With the help of Dr Beardsley, the family fights gathering all the clinical information and mastering the courage to move towards hope and courage.
It is a heart-wrenching story, moistening the eyes with whirling emotions. But after reading this book one must acknowledge that emotional deluge is not the primary framework of this novel. The author projects the systematic process and progress of the treatment that is more poignant. I feel proud of the doctor who constantly supported the unfortunate family with clear medical instructions. Everyone seemed stubborn to never give up and for the child who fights his own battle along with the family.
There is nothing I dislike about the book. It is a wonderful book to ponder on. When the fight for survival becomes an obsession the fighter family determined to beat 'zero chance of survival' and they did it. This book provides a positive message to those who are fighting this fatal disease. I rate the book 5 out of 5. The editing is professional. I recommend this book to every living soul. The images attached to the book boost the narrative voice with more reliability and authenticity. The narrator's note-taking habit turned him into an author. At first, the book follows every day as its new chapter then new chapters store the activities of several months. I think it was a matter of time to keep meticulous notes.
The author not only highlighted his family's journey but also provided thorough information regarding this disease and associated medical research that can be helpful to others. This book is so invigorating and motivating for me that I feel lucky to have it. Being a mother, I learnt a lot of things from this book. Apart from being the journal of a family struggle to restore their cherished boy from the clutches of death, this book shows me precious ways of parenting. "Children do what they see their parents doing, after all." Page 104
As the parents fought together, they did not forget to teach the basic lesson of humanity to their sons, the lesson of sacrifice, acceptance and remaining close together during crisis. The glossary of related medical terms at the end of the book also adds privilege to understanding this medical fatality.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
First Survivor by Mark Unger
"Hearing a chorus of screaming children was hard, but unavoidable. They had to endure pain if they were to survive." Page 100
Surviving is an arduous journey, and the road is not easy to cross. But giving up cannot solve the problem and no one can leave the battlefield until shedding the last breath. Endurance is the cornerstone of every success story and "First Survivor" by Mark Unger does not break the rule.
"There are no dead ends, only new paths."
Keeping faith in the new path, the family started their battle to cure their three-year-old son Louis, diagnosed with the lethal blow of neuroblastoma, which had spread to the brain. It is a serious pediatric cancer that omens zero chance of survival. This book is a true story that chronicles the struggle of the Unger family and the courage and tenacity that they show to heal their younger son, Louis. There was no room for tears as the only focus was on the medical procedures. If you go through this heart-wrenching story you will feel as if you are reading a medical journal though the author has acknowledged at the very beginning that "This is not a medical journal." Page 53
The painstaking description only hints at the persistence that the parents along with their sons took to save the family. The tumour in the adrenal gland on Louis's left side had cancer cells i.e., Neuroblastoma stage four. And the journey starts from there. Two brothers, Harry, and Louis, who once loved to explore nature freely, were suddenly thrown into a catastrophe where big brother had to support the little one. An arranged life suddenly lost track and an avalanche of fear and grief struck them. But they did not let them break till the battle ended for them to win. And this positive message that beams throughout this emergency medical journey makes this book a true story of life. With the help of Dr Beardsley, the family fights gathering all the clinical information and mastering the courage to move towards hope and courage.
It is a heart-wrenching story, moistening the eyes with whirling emotions. But after reading this book one must acknowledge that emotional deluge is not the primary framework of this novel. The author projects the systematic process and progress of the treatment that is more poignant. I feel proud of the doctor who constantly supported the unfortunate family with clear medical instructions. Everyone seemed stubborn to never give up and for the child who fights his own battle along with the family.
There is nothing I dislike about the book. It is a wonderful book to ponder on. When the fight for survival becomes an obsession the fighter family determined to beat 'zero chance of survival' and they did it. This book provides a positive message to those who are fighting this fatal disease. I rate the book 5 out of 5. The editing is professional. I recommend this book to every living soul. The images attached to the book boost the narrative voice with more reliability and authenticity. The narrator's note-taking habit turned him into an author. At first, the book follows every day as its new chapter then new chapters store the activities of several months. I think it was a matter of time to keep meticulous notes.
The author not only highlighted his family's journey but also provided thorough information regarding this disease and associated medical research that can be helpful to others. This book is so invigorating and motivating for me that I feel lucky to have it. Being a mother, I learnt a lot of things from this book. Apart from being the journal of a family struggle to restore their cherished boy from the clutches of death, this book shows me precious ways of parenting. "Children do what they see their parents doing, after all." Page 104
As the parents fought together, they did not forget to teach the basic lesson of humanity to their sons, the lesson of sacrifice, acceptance and remaining close together during crisis. The glossary of related medical terms at the end of the book also adds privilege to understanding this medical fatality.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Grace Jane
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