Review of First Survivor

[Shannon McGoogan Moseley]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Imagine being told your three-year-old son had cancer. Now, imagine finding out that the type of cancer he was diagnosed with had zero chance of survival. This is the nightmare that the Unger family faced.

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough, by Mark Unger, chronicles the Unger family's terrifying journey through battling a deadly pediatric cancer known as neuroblastoma. At the time of Louis' diagnosis, neuroblastoma had a 0% survival rate. This is the true story of how the Unger family courageously faced this nightmare, participated in an untested clinical study, and opened a new way of treatment that has since been proven to be effective in battling neuroblastoma.

Without medical backgrounds, the Ungers were thrown into the unknown. Mark navigated this journey, by taking meticulous notes and looking up definitions to help him understand the treatment his son was receiving. He found online support groups that could tell him what to expect next, contacted research doctors focused on neuroblastoma, and learned about various treatments and clinical trials. His wife, Mary Ellen, spent countless hours attending to Louis by showering him with love and support, reading him stories, and assuring he received his medications on time.

This book takes the reader through the emotional rollercoaster of ups and downs the family went through. It demonstrates the strength of family love. It also illustrates the importance of patient advocacy amid the complicated world of medical treatments and side effects.

At first, I was reluctant to read this book, due to its emotional subject matter. Overall, I am so glad I did and would highly recommend it to others. It is an inspirational book that gave me insight into what cancer patients and their immediate families go through. It also gave me a better understanding of how various treatments work. It is a well written, highly inspirational book of hope and family love and I give it a rating of 5 out of 5.

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First Survivor
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