One Hundred Days: My Unexpected Journey from Doctor to Patient (Vintage)

Rating:
Summary: Horribly interesting
Review: Biro is a writer and a dermatologist (not sure which order he'd put those in himself), and he's written a gripping account of surviving a life threatening disease. From the earliest stages, through the difficult decision to proceed with a bone marrow transplant, and the agonizing months of treatment and recovery that follow, he takes the reader by the hand through an emotionally and physically harrowing ordeal. Through it all, his life hangs in the balance, and he's written his story so well that you have to keep reminding yourself that he's had to survive the experience to write the book you're reading.

This is not to say that you don't step back now and then and realize that you're not reading the story of a typical patient. Biro clearly has all sorts of advantages by being a doctor, with numerous personal connections in medicine, including a father who is a doctor. Biro gets privileged treatment all along the way, including the advice of two specialists whom he's actually able to get together in the same room to discuss his case from their differing points of view.

In retrospect, you also realize that Biro has glossed over a remarkable stroke of good fortune -- his younger sister's being a perfect match as a bone marrow donor. While he praises his family for their tireless support at his bedside throughout his time as a patient, you feel that he also takes a great deal of this attentiveness for granted, especially the very painful procedure that his sister undergoes to be his lifesaver.

But in spite of these misgivings, a reader is likely to feel thoroughly absorbed by Biro's story. He does, after all, have to endure weeks of physical pain and discomfort, all the while knowing that he might not survive at all. It's OK for him to be more self-centered than maybe we'd prefer.

This is an excellent book for anyone in the healthcare professions, as it depicts graphically the experience of being a patient and having to endure treatment that is as life threatening as the disease being treated. As a companion to this book, I'd recommend the play "Wit," about a dying cancer patient, by Margaret Edson, also made into an HBO film by Mike Nichols, starring Emma Thompson.

Rating:
Summary: A well written account of a Bone Marrow Transplant not PNH
Review: David Biro's remarkable experience is both extraordinary and universal. Despite the rarity of his medical condition, he experiences what we all fear. Life is going well and then the bottom unexpectedly falls out. Biro eloquently relays the frailty that underlies the human condition as well as the strength of spirit to overcome a life threatening condition. It is both enlightening and inspiring to follow his journey from doctor to patient.

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling, With A Surprise Ending
Review: David did an exceptional job detailing every step of his BMT (bone marrow transplant). His courage was inspiring, and the tremendous support from his family was touching. Personally, I think his mother should receive an award for her devotion.

I'm sure this book will serve as a useful resource, not only for individuals preparing for BMT, but anyone facing a life-threatening blood disorder. David's journey preparing his body for his sister's bone marrow, and his long recovery period was engrossing, thanks to David's skills in projecting his unique literary voice. He made all the medical terminology along with his treatments easy to follow.

The ending surprised me -- that's all I'll say about that. I hope David remains healthy. I'm curious to know what happened to the novel he was working on.

Rating:
Summary: One Hundred Days by David Biro
Review: Having witnessed my father undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant at Sloan Kettering (which he ultimately did not survive), I found David Biro's account of his own transplant to be a beautifully written and honest medical and emotional treatment of the tremendous "highs" and "lows" that accompany this complicated and painstaking procedure. From a literary viewpoint, the book was exceptional. In particular, I thought that the transition from Biro's medical and emotional abyss to his recovery was very well-handled. When the author is at his low point and incapable of any rational thought, he drops his personal narrative and covers these precarious days with excerpts from both his parents' diaries. This was a very effective tool for capturing the fragile state of the patient and bringing the reader into the lives of the other family members. I also particularly enjoyed reading about the author's trip to the sperm bank (which is necessary because of the impending radiation treatments), which was handled both honestly and humerously (describing how his wife will be reassured that their "futire offspring are peacfully resting at the bottom of a giant freezer."). Biro also has the ability to make complex medical information easily understandable to the average reader. At various times, Biro uses very effective analogies to convey these concepts to the reader. For instance, Biro effectively tells the reader how his sister's bone marrow cells, which are simply injected into his bloodstream, "know" how to enter his bone marrow (rather than some other part of his body). All in all, this is a highly compelling, emotional, well-written and philosophical account of a David Biro's experience.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book that I could not put down
Review: I am the son of one of Dr. Biro's doctors. I never fully understood what my father did and what his patients went through. I now understand what it feels like to be at both sides of the medical spectrum; being a doctor and being a patient. I have heard many sad stories of patients dying prematurely and never understood what attracted someone to such a profession. David Biro is a true inspiration to all. Yes, he did suffer from the tough task of going through and then recovering from a bone marrow transplant. But those who will or know others who will go through the same treatment should really read this book. It offers a ray of light at the end of a truly scary and dark tunnel. His account of the whole experience is both touching and comical. His writing is excellent and amused seeing a picture of my father through someone else's eyes. This book was so entertaining, i finished it in 5 days. Not the smartest idea since I'm smack in the middle of finals. Please read this, you will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Sorry To See It End
Review: I finished reading One Hundred Days last night. I enjoyed the book so much that I was sorry to see it end. Wonderfully written and easy to read it quickly drew me in -- I found myself moved (sometimes with a smile, other times with a lump in my throat). Biro's very personal account invites the reader in making it impossible not to relate to those involved -- parents, sisters, spouse -- and of course the patient. Very moving, I look forward to something else by David Biro.

Rating:
Summary: All PNH patients should read this
Review: I have PNH, and was stunned to find a book about my rare disease. This book does not go into great detail of living with PNH on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Dr. Biro was fortunate enough to have a perfect match for his Bone Marrow Transplant. This book tells of his story through the BMT process, which I think is good for any one to read if they may have to have a BMT. It really explained a lot to me. Any one with PNH, would benenfit from reading his book. And it helps all of us with PNH to know there is a chance of a successful ending to PNH.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: I read this book upon recommendation of a friend who knows the Biro family. I'm a health educator, so the chronicling of medical events is something I enjoy reading about, and this was not disappointing in that regard. I already knew some general information about BMT and how grueling it is, but David's narrative really filled in all the blanks. His decision-making process, the treatment ordeal itself, his illness's effect on his family -- it was all fascinating. Even though I knew he survived, I couldn't wait to read what happened next. This book made me care very much about what happened to David. I'd love to see an article on him and how he is doing now -- any aftereffects he may have suffered.