Review of First Survivor

[Dana Lawrence Lohn]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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It is the absolute nightmare of any parent. As a mother of three girls, my heart seizes at the thought of this happening to my family. Mark Unger and his wife, Mary Ellen, learned that their young son, Louis, had neuroblastoma. This event opens First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakdown. I could not put this book down. I read it entirely in one sitting. I needed to know, did Louis live?

This was not an easy medical finding. He had been erroneously diagnosed in the months prior with orthopedic issues. A pediatrician eventually determined the horrible diagnosis and delivered the news with as much sensitivity and tact as possible. Some parents would have immediately fallen apart. Mark Unger felt internal chaos. He responded with what has become his life's mission. He got organized, began his note-taking and documentation, and commenced the multi-year journey that cured his son. He also wrote a road map about the journey to help those who will experience a similar situation.

This is not a medical journal or a how-to guide. It is a real-life thriller that confronts perceived dead ends and culminates with a transcendence over a cancer that is too often fatal. This book is also an unexpected and beautiful love letter to Mary Ellen Unger. Mark loves her fiercely. This marital love grows as they together work to save their son. This aspect of the book profoundly moved me as a reader.

Unger is a brilliant man with obvious technical acumen. The level of medical detail in this book rises to that of a medical school curriculum at points. Readers who tend toward biological topics will find the discussions of CBC counts, hemoglobin levels, and stem cell harvesting to be interesting. Other readers with pharmaceutical inclinations will appreciate the book's coverage of a wide range of drugs, some quite innovative, including Vincristine, Doxorubicin, and various chemotherapy regimens. If this describes you, or if you are a parent who enjoys nonfiction and admires fellow parents who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, you will enjoy this book.

I give this book five out of five stars. It is well-edited and contains only the most minor typographical errors. I found just one aspect that I disliked about the book. A helpful timeline called "A Concise History of Survival" is included at the end, following the glossary. It would be extremely helpful to readers if Unger and his editors moved that timeline to the beginning of the story. It serves as a helpful guide in keeping track of the action-packed and at times chronologically overlapping events.

Louis and his parents fought this battle with positivity and resilience, in turn motivating those around them to rise to their level of strength. Like the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center pediatric oncologist and antibody inventor who saluted them in the book's foreword, I applaud the entire Unger family for their level of courage.

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First Survivor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[RJ Reviews]

This book was absolutely heart touching! I can only imagine the heartbreak and pain Lou's parents went through. This book is both inspiring and memorable. I enjoyed your review. Looking forward to read more from you.

[Alissa Nesson]

Hey, Dana! Thanks for a wonderful review! It’s so weird cause I’m just about to submit a review for the same book! I also found the book to be very moving. I loved the pictures of Louis and the drawings that he made. It was a really nice touch. There were a couple parts that made me cry. Tough story at times!

[Gerry Steen]

Your comprehensive review has piqued my interest in this book. This book reminds me of a movie "Lorenzo's Oil". When one's child is sick, one will do all they possibly can to help their child get cured. I am curious about neuroblastoma, the roadmap to find a cure, and the medications used. Thank you for this inspiring review. I am adding this book to my bookshelves.

[Yashi Shukla]

This one is going to be a heartwrenching read. I will definitely try out this book. Love the way you drafted this review.

[Ludovica Peruzzi]

I absolutely cannot handle the subject matter, so this book will be a hard pass for me - but I'm *so* glad to hear the family had a happy ending. I was reading your review, gearing up to be destroyed, but I ended up being so relieved. Unfortunately, lots of children weren't so lucky, which is why I admire that this family cared so much about helping other families going through it. That's very noble, and I wish them all the happiness. Thanks for sharing!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

My best friend of 40 years is battling cancer right now, his prognosis is good and it looks like he's going to go into remission which is wonderful. I've held off reading this book until I get the good news from him, as it's just too close to home right now. Thanks for the awesome review as always.

[DEVIKA R NAIR]

Your review beautifully captures the emotional journey and resilience of the Unger family in 'First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakdown.' It's heartening to hear how they navigated through such a challenging ordeal with determination and love. The book's focus on overcoming obstacles, rather than seeing illness as predetermined by fate, is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing this powerful story!

[David Awunor]

A truly exquisite book, once hailed as the book of the year. I like that it explores medical terminology, encompassing everything from drugs to meticulous attention to detail, emotions, and trauma.