Customer Reviews

One Hundred Days: My Unexpected Journey from Doctor to Patient

5 star:		(23)
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3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I can't remember when a story moved me more than David Biro's account of his illness. I feel as if I know David and his family. The book is extremely very well written and I am looking forward to the publication of his novel.

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.

I READ A PREVIOUS REVIEW OF THIS BOOK WHERE THE WOMAN WRITING IT SAID SHE FELT AS IF SHE KNEW DAVID AND HIS FAMILY. I DO KNOW DAVID'S FAMILY AND WAS AWARE TO SOME DEGREE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME. I WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGROSSED IN THIS ACCOUNT OF HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS. WHAT DREW ME FURTHER INTO THIS BOOK WAS THE UNDERLYING SIGNIFICANCE OF HOW STRONG WE ALL CAN BE AS A GROUP. THEY ARE A WONDERFUL FAMILY. THE ONE POINT THAT STRUCK ME WAS THAT THEY ALL SURVIVED PNH.GIVEN THE SUBJECT MATTER ONE WOULD THINK THIS BOOK WAS DEPRESSING, MUCH TO THE CONTRARY I FOUND THIS TO BE A TRUE TESTIMONIAL TO THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

David Biro's book, One Hundred Days, is a modern tale of one man's complete turn through the medieval "Wheel of Life." I'm thinking of those images found carved in stone along the walls of medieval cathedrals and monasteries that were used by the clergy to illustrate man's four "stations" of life to an illiterate population.

At the top, we see a happy, content man. He's smiling and well-dressed; obviously in a position of success and happiness. Then, as you view the wheel clockwise, the next portrayal is that of the same man, but he's looking distressed. He's falling into the "abyss of change and loss." Life's fortunes have turned against him. Then, as the wheel continues to move, he's now shown at the bottom, naked and experiencing hopelessness, despair and suffering.

Then, "as the world turns," we now see at the nine o'clock position, turning and rising, obviously now expectant and hopeful that his situation is now improving. He's clothed again and has a look of hope, of anticipation that his life will - once again - move towards the apex of the wheel again.

Such is the journey that Dr. David Biro describes. It is a universal one, told thousands of times a day in offices of pastors, rabbis, and counselors, between husbands and wives, and best friends over coffee. They usually start with stark, simple words, like "I have cancer." Or, as in this case, "I have PNH." And, the story of one person's journey down to the lowest position of the Wheel begins.

Dr. Biro is a successful dermatologist. He has a beautiful wife, a flexible practice with his father that allows him time to write, and a wide circle of friends and family. He's at the top of the wheel. Then, starting with the feeling of a strange sensation - like a flashlight beam flashing across his eyes - he experiences symptoms that are disturbing. A bone marrow biopsy is done, and after much testing, he is found to have a rare blood disease: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria or "PNH" for short. The decent into hellish suffering has begun.

Biro offers readers a dualistic view of his transforming emotional journey during his one hundred day ordeal of pain, suffering and survival. The first perspective is that of scientific detachment from his "physician" persona, as he describes the tests, procedures and surgery performed on him as a "patient". The second is that of "Everyman," the writer, husband, son, friend, undergoing painful treatments and surgery with the outcome in doubt.

Destined to be a classic work on many a medical school, nursing and psychology class syllabi, this rich, thoughtful, well-written and horrifying book demonstrates that Biro is a truly talented writer. It is so rare to have the "whole package," a doctor capable of opening his heart and mind to readers to tell a story fearlessly - with all its raw emotion of a man's struggle with suffering and pain.

Highly recommended for academic, medical and public library collections.

R. Neil Scott
Middle Tennessee State University

This well-written book describes a doctor's experience within a system in which he had previously flourished. He was faced with an impossible decision between conservative and agressive treatment for a rare disease, and was essentially forced to make a leap of faith. It calls into question the notion of informed consent -- often there is no definitive informtion to aid the patient into making the right decision.