Review of First Survivor

Jane Gaskins · Post by **Jane Gaskins** » 05 Mar 2024, 12:26

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

5 out of 5 stars

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First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough by Mark Unger

What a remarkable story Mark Unger is revealing. A tale of one family's fight to save their youngest child from a diagnosis of Neuroblastoma. Louis was only 3 when he started showing disturbing signs that something was not right. Can you imagine hearing the devastating news that their son had close to zero chance of survival? Not only that, but they received this news on Thanksgiving Day! Mark and Mary Ellen launch a fight for his life.

For those who have never experienced cancer, Mark makes this story so detailed you can understand how all-consuming this fight can be. Through Mark's constant research and seeking the best doctors, a new treatment is constructed that later will become the treatment of choice. It is very effective, but like all cancer treatments, it takes the body as close to death as you can imagine.

Even after receiving the all-clear, they once again must face this awful disease. Before a year is out, Louis develops a terrible headache. Mary and Mark rush him back to the hospital. Louis had a brain tumor about the size of a golf ball. Mark and Mary Ellen decide that they must fight this aggressively.

There are no words to describe what anguish this family faced over and over. Will they ever hear the final diagnosis of no cancer, complete cure? Will their little boy survive and thrive? What would you do as a parent?

In telling their story of self-advocacy, they are giving the next family with this devastating diagnosis a road map to success.
Not only is Mark giving details about the treatment, but the everyday struggles a family faces. The other child in the family, Harry, reveals his thoughts and feelings. Not surprisingly, there are also moments of jealousy because his family is so consumed with the care of Louis that Harry feels left out. Years later, Harry shared that he knew these feelings were wrong. He was just a little boy craving a family life.

I did not find any editing issues.

I am giving this book a 5 out of 5.

There are several occurrences of borderline or minor profanity that serve to convey the emotions in the story.

location 730 Stop the cancer now! I am getting really pissed off!
location 998 It hurt like hell, but it was a classic slapstick comedy moment, and we both laughed for the first time since we had visited the peditrician.
location 2890 I can't help him climb that path, but I'll be damed if I will let him fall back down.

Only issue of profanity I remember was in the following sentence.
location2254 He feels like crap, can speak just a few words, and likes to just sleep and be left alone.

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First Survivor
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