Review of First Survivor
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Haley Moore 3
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- Latest Review: First Survivor by Mark Unger
Review of First Survivor
[Following is a volunteer review of "First Survivor" by Mark Unger.]
First Survivor written by Mark Unger is a must-read for anyone who has a beating heart. Unger's words leap off the page as you imagine being placed in his seat - that is, the seat of a parent who's three-year-old son was just diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. First Survivor gives the reader a heart-wrenching insight into what life became for the Unger family, told through inspiration from the notes of Mark Unger himself written by the bedside of his sick son, Louis. Unger explains that originally, his notetaking was to help him with processing the news and ensuring that he and his wife, Mary Ellen, were able to grasp the abundance of information constantly being provided to them. His notes then evolved into the mainstream way of being able to advocate for their son; first to get the test results, follow ups, and the appropriate person in the room, and then later to have Louis moved to the top-ranked neuroblastoma treatment center in the United States at the time. Unger takes the reader through the nitty-gritty details of Louis' disease course and helps the reader break down and understand the medical jargon, the politics in medical care, and the desperation a parent feels when the life of their child is so fragile and uncertain. Although the telling is heavily medical-based, Unger allows the reader to learn as they go, picking up the information at a pace that is manageable and easy to grasp.
I work in the medical profession, which absolutely influenced my view of this book. Working in the medical field (not being a physician myself) and seeing how accurately the hospital setting was portrayed was sobering and validating. When working with patients, it can be hard to remember how the patient and their families view the vast, unknown, and uncertain atmosphere that hospitals understandably create. The experience depicted in this summary of Louis' illness from the patient and their family's point of view was an important reminder of why people choose to get into the medical field in the first place. Given my own experiences, I would give this book a five out of five rating. It was exceptionally edited and was also beautifully and thoughtfully written. Unger provided extensive information to support the reader in understanding their family’s story through a glossary of terms and also left the reader well-equipped to find answers to any of their own questions through resources and community/medical connections provided at the end of the book.
First Survivor is a tough but meaningful read for anyone who is already a parent, is thinking of becoming a parent, or has ever had a loved one struggling with an illness of any kind. This recounting is full of important knowledge and helpful tips for navigating a very complex medical world that would serve useful for anyone. The lessons laid out by Unger throughout the telling of his son's illness trajectory are honest and heart-warming despite the depressing possibility of their son losing his life always looming overhead. First Survivor is so much bigger than a story of struggle through one family's experience - Unger points to the sexism in the medical profession in passing off mothers as hysterical and fathers as deserving of answers; the financial burden that bars some from accessing life-saving treatments and investigations; and the onus of responsibility put into the hands of patients and families to advocate for and seek out the best-available medical treatments even if they are not provided this information by their medical care team. Unger also highlights the mindset they had to adapt as parents to continually fight for their son's life, while also knowing that their older son, Harry, was ultimately being neglected during this time. He explains the depth of their hope, and the way that Louis and Harry were both able to hold that hope with high regard too. This story is a recounting of choice, never-ending uncertainty, multiple competing priorities, and sacrifice at the highest levels.
Although First Survivor is a story that can deeply set fear in the hearts of the reader, both for themselves and their loved ones, it is really a story of mindset, devotion, determination, and unwavering hope. Unger repeatedly throughout the book cycles back to the most important aspects of this experience - their family, their son's life, and never losing hope even when it seemed as though all hope was lost. This retelling is a reminder to the reader about the true meaning of life - to love and be loved, regardless of the cost. Between the sacrifice of their family, the support from the medical teams and neuroblastoma community, their loved ones around them, and their individual hardships and grieving throughout the process, First Survivor is a must-read to learn more about selflessness, courage, and determination.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
First Survivor written by Mark Unger is a must-read for anyone who has a beating heart. Unger's words leap off the page as you imagine being placed in his seat - that is, the seat of a parent who's three-year-old son was just diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. First Survivor gives the reader a heart-wrenching insight into what life became for the Unger family, told through inspiration from the notes of Mark Unger himself written by the bedside of his sick son, Louis. Unger explains that originally, his notetaking was to help him with processing the news and ensuring that he and his wife, Mary Ellen, were able to grasp the abundance of information constantly being provided to them. His notes then evolved into the mainstream way of being able to advocate for their son; first to get the test results, follow ups, and the appropriate person in the room, and then later to have Louis moved to the top-ranked neuroblastoma treatment center in the United States at the time. Unger takes the reader through the nitty-gritty details of Louis' disease course and helps the reader break down and understand the medical jargon, the politics in medical care, and the desperation a parent feels when the life of their child is so fragile and uncertain. Although the telling is heavily medical-based, Unger allows the reader to learn as they go, picking up the information at a pace that is manageable and easy to grasp.
I work in the medical profession, which absolutely influenced my view of this book. Working in the medical field (not being a physician myself) and seeing how accurately the hospital setting was portrayed was sobering and validating. When working with patients, it can be hard to remember how the patient and their families view the vast, unknown, and uncertain atmosphere that hospitals understandably create. The experience depicted in this summary of Louis' illness from the patient and their family's point of view was an important reminder of why people choose to get into the medical field in the first place. Given my own experiences, I would give this book a five out of five rating. It was exceptionally edited and was also beautifully and thoughtfully written. Unger provided extensive information to support the reader in understanding their family’s story through a glossary of terms and also left the reader well-equipped to find answers to any of their own questions through resources and community/medical connections provided at the end of the book.
First Survivor is a tough but meaningful read for anyone who is already a parent, is thinking of becoming a parent, or has ever had a loved one struggling with an illness of any kind. This recounting is full of important knowledge and helpful tips for navigating a very complex medical world that would serve useful for anyone. The lessons laid out by Unger throughout the telling of his son's illness trajectory are honest and heart-warming despite the depressing possibility of their son losing his life always looming overhead. First Survivor is so much bigger than a story of struggle through one family's experience - Unger points to the sexism in the medical profession in passing off mothers as hysterical and fathers as deserving of answers; the financial burden that bars some from accessing life-saving treatments and investigations; and the onus of responsibility put into the hands of patients and families to advocate for and seek out the best-available medical treatments even if they are not provided this information by their medical care team. Unger also highlights the mindset they had to adapt as parents to continually fight for their son's life, while also knowing that their older son, Harry, was ultimately being neglected during this time. He explains the depth of their hope, and the way that Louis and Harry were both able to hold that hope with high regard too. This story is a recounting of choice, never-ending uncertainty, multiple competing priorities, and sacrifice at the highest levels.
Although First Survivor is a story that can deeply set fear in the hearts of the reader, both for themselves and their loved ones, it is really a story of mindset, devotion, determination, and unwavering hope. Unger repeatedly throughout the book cycles back to the most important aspects of this experience - their family, their son's life, and never losing hope even when it seemed as though all hope was lost. This retelling is a reminder to the reader about the true meaning of life - to love and be loved, regardless of the cost. Between the sacrifice of their family, the support from the medical teams and neuroblastoma community, their loved ones around them, and their individual hardships and grieving throughout the process, First Survivor is a must-read to learn more about selflessness, courage, and determination.
******
First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: First Survivor by Mark Unger
