When Mark and Mary Ellen Unger’s, youngest son, 3-year-old Louis, is diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer on Thanksgiving, their lives change exponentially. In this illuminating and well-written account of a family’s experience with a devastating illness, Mark Unger enlightens his readers in 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳:𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 by providing the harrowing details of the impact on their lives. Their persistence, determination and advocacy for a cure, continue to benefit children worldwide.
Mark and Mary Ellen’s pain and fear are palpable throughout the book, giving me pause to ponder the unimaginable, so bravely endured, for which I applaud them both. Their honesty and bravery amid immense difficulty in devising a plan of action that would lessen the impact on their 5-year-old son Harry, while simultaneously ensuring Louis’s ongoing care and comfort is to be commended.
There were many positive aspects to this book following Louis’s diagnosis. Mark’s daily notetaking, while assisting them to keep track of medication and treatment, also helped to ensure they stayed on top of an otherwise inconceivable situation. Mark kept his family and friends informed, updating them on his condition while regularly interacting with medical staff to stay abreast of any changes in his child’s treatment process. The challenges confronting him were colossal, as he continued to run his own company while ensuring his family’s needs were not compromised.
By no account is this an easy book to read and I sometimes struggled with it. Still, my admiration for young Louis and his family in their quest for a cure, for neuroblastoma cancer surpasses any discomfort I may have experienced. The fact that many children are now able to live normal lives after a terminal cancer diagnosis, illustrates the astonishing breakthrough achieved by the Ungers during Louis’s treatments. They continue to advocate for other sufferers and donate proceeds from their book to the Carrot Seed Foundation and I commend them for this.
I noticed two minor errors that did not detract from my overall, positive reading experience, and I rate this book, four out of five stars. Generally, the editing was professional, and the glossary and support resources in layman’s terms at the end of the book were a welcome addition. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject matter and to those who may have a family member or are themselves facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
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First Survivor
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