Review of First Survivor

Harty Muli · Post by **Harty Muli** » 18 Feb 2024, 03:07

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

5 out of 5 stars

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The true story of First Survivor by Mark Unger is easily defined by what we don’t know compared to what we do know about the causes of cancer. This was because I struggled to understand how a toddler could twice become infected with one of the most dreaded diseases known to mankind. Moreover, at the time of writing this book, the doctors confirmed to the author in writing that they didn’t know what caused a form of cancer known as neuroblastoma.

In 2001, the author’s three-year-old child, Louis Unger, began attending nursery school. However, before long, his mother and teacher noticed that he was irritable and lethargic, something that was quite unlike him. A few tests later, the family’s pediatrician confirmed that Louis suffered from leukemia (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) and, some months later, a brain tumor.

I liked this book because it was quite inspirational. As far as the couple’s younger son was concerned, Mark Unger and his wife, Mary Ellen, were relentless and determined to seek a cure and never gave up. They vowed to ensure that their son received the best medical attention possible, even when they weren’t sure whether their insurance provider would cover it. In the process, without knowing it, Mark and Mary Unger perfected a medical practice that would later become known as “patient advocacy.”

Further, I was touched by the fact that this book promoted the importance of support groups in disease management. In the early days of Louis’s hospitalization, the author’s immediate family provided support. Later, the family joined support groups for children and families burdened with cancer, where they were able to advise others based on their own experiences with the disease. I also appreciated the importance of having a hobby as a form of stress management through Mark’s action of taking up writing as a form of unwinding.

I disliked nothing about this memoir. The book was also exceptionally edited. I, thus, rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

In conclusion, this is a useful book for adults (parents) who may like to understand how to help children going through cancer treatment. In the same breath, as a suggestion, would the author consider producing a children’s version of this book that would help children understand how to help other children suffering from cancer? Lastly, even though there is a glossary of medical terms, the book may appear a bit technical to some readers.

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First Survivor
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