Synopses & Reviews
A world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon shares the lessons of courage, compassion, and resilience that hes learned from his patientsIf I Get to Five is a one-of-a-kind book by a one-of-a-kind human being. The medical world knows him as Fred Epstein, M.D., the neurosurgeon who pioneered life-saving procedures for previously inoperable brain and spinal tumors in children. His patients and their families know him simply as Dr. Fred, the "miracle man" who has extended them both a healing hand and an open heart.
“I simply cant accept the idea of kids dying,” is how Fred Epstein explains his commitment to saving his young patients. As the worlds leading pediatric neurosurgeon, he did whatever it took to rescue children that other doctors had given up on. Along the way, he literally redefined what was curable and what was hopeless.
Dr. Epstein credits his young patients as his most important teachers throughout his career. If I Get to Five relates the unforgettable conversations, letters, and experiences hes shared with children--lessons in "uncommon courage" and "love without boundaries" that we can draw on to overcome adversity at any stage of life.
No one who reads this remarkable book will ever look at children--or adversity--the same way.
About the Author
Fred Epstein, M.D., is the founding director of the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. He has served as president of the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery and president of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He lives with his wife and children in Greenwich,Connecticut.
Joshua Horwitz is the president of Living Planet Books, a book packaging firm. He is the co-author of Wrestling with Angels.