Review of First Survivor
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Review of First Survivor
[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]
Mark Unger's book, "First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough", chronicles the brave journey of young Louis Unger as he battled the aggressive neuroblastoma cancer as a toddler. Mark, Mary Ellen, Harry, and Louis Unger were our typical family of four until late 2001. That's when Mary Ellen noticed that Louis, who was only 3 years old, was walking strangely and becoming less talkative. After taking him to a doctor, the boy was diagnosed with a rare condition called "Perthes Disease."
But as Mary Ellen felt that the diagnosis was incorrect, and Louis's health kept deteriorating, new "routine x-rays" were taken at Yale New Haven Hospital, and the results were very concerning. The family promptly accompanied the doctor to the Children's Emergency Room, where Louis underwent another test. The test results were alarming, and Louis had a neuroblastoma diagnosis.
Since this type of cancer has a notoriously low survival rate, particularly in pediatric cases, the Ungers were distraught. The volume of new medical information was quite overwhelming, and the side effects of the numerous necessary procedures were very concerning. The family's routine changed all of a sudden, and the time between one procedure and the next seemed insufficient to learn everything about the disease.
Having such a terrible diagnosis for your child is every parent's worst nightmare. It must be incredibly overwhelming to feel powerless and anxious without any medical expertise. But the Ungers decided they wouldn't just sit down and be consumed by uncertainty while the doctors took care of everything. Instead, they started a tireless journey towards the best possible treatments for Louis, advocating for their son non-stop.
Since the sudden influx of new medical information was overwhelming, Mark Unger started a diary to take note of all the procedures taken by Louis, and all the questions that arose about them. As Mary Ellen became Louis' full-time caregiver, Mark took it upon himself to research as much as he could about neuroblastoma and the best available options for Louis, all while also taking care of Harry.
I admire the Ungers' resolve in their journey very much. The seven years between the diagnosis and the cure were a torment that no one should ever have to go through, but not once the Ungers' allowed themselves to lose their hopes and be consumed by despair. Despite his tender age, Louis went through the treatment with courage and grace. This book really resonated with me, and despite the complex medical terms used throughout the story, I liked it a lot, even though I noticed a few errors in the book. I will rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
Cancer is a tragedy, but through Louis' story and the Ungers' incredible journey, those battling this disease and their families can find motivation and optimism.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Mark Unger's book, "First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough", chronicles the brave journey of young Louis Unger as he battled the aggressive neuroblastoma cancer as a toddler. Mark, Mary Ellen, Harry, and Louis Unger were our typical family of four until late 2001. That's when Mary Ellen noticed that Louis, who was only 3 years old, was walking strangely and becoming less talkative. After taking him to a doctor, the boy was diagnosed with a rare condition called "Perthes Disease."
But as Mary Ellen felt that the diagnosis was incorrect, and Louis's health kept deteriorating, new "routine x-rays" were taken at Yale New Haven Hospital, and the results were very concerning. The family promptly accompanied the doctor to the Children's Emergency Room, where Louis underwent another test. The test results were alarming, and Louis had a neuroblastoma diagnosis.
Since this type of cancer has a notoriously low survival rate, particularly in pediatric cases, the Ungers were distraught. The volume of new medical information was quite overwhelming, and the side effects of the numerous necessary procedures were very concerning. The family's routine changed all of a sudden, and the time between one procedure and the next seemed insufficient to learn everything about the disease.
Having such a terrible diagnosis for your child is every parent's worst nightmare. It must be incredibly overwhelming to feel powerless and anxious without any medical expertise. But the Ungers decided they wouldn't just sit down and be consumed by uncertainty while the doctors took care of everything. Instead, they started a tireless journey towards the best possible treatments for Louis, advocating for their son non-stop.
Since the sudden influx of new medical information was overwhelming, Mark Unger started a diary to take note of all the procedures taken by Louis, and all the questions that arose about them. As Mary Ellen became Louis' full-time caregiver, Mark took it upon himself to research as much as he could about neuroblastoma and the best available options for Louis, all while also taking care of Harry.
I admire the Ungers' resolve in their journey very much. The seven years between the diagnosis and the cure were a torment that no one should ever have to go through, but not once the Ungers' allowed themselves to lose their hopes and be consumed by despair. Despite his tender age, Louis went through the treatment with courage and grace. This book really resonated with me, and despite the complex medical terms used throughout the story, I liked it a lot, even though I noticed a few errors in the book. I will rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
Cancer is a tragedy, but through Louis' story and the Ungers' incredible journey, those battling this disease and their families can find motivation and optimism.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper
