A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles

A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer

By: Mary Elizabeth Williams

Narrated by: Mary Elizabeth Williams

A wry, witty account of what it is like to face death - and be restored to life.

After being diagnosed in her early 40s with metastatic melanoma - a "rapidly fatal" form of cancer - journalist and mother of two Mary Elizabeth Williams finds herself in a race against the clock. She takes a once-in-a-lifetime chance and joins a clinical trial for immunotherapy, a revolutionary drug regimen that trains the body to vanquish malignant cells. Astonishingly, her cancer disappears entirely in just a few weeks. But at the same time, her best friend embarks on a cancer journey of her own - with very different results.

Williams' experiences as a patient and a medical test subject reveal with stark honesty what it takes to weather disease, the extraordinary new developments that are rewriting the rules of science - and the healing power of human connection.

©2016 Mary Elizabeth Williams (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Very Inspiring Story

The Narrator is also the Author. She does a remarkable job at expressing her feelings, thoughts & living with Cancer. She's right, Life isn't fair but she is an extraordinary example of enduring well our trials & being grateful for all our experiences in our lives especially of our privledged relationships with family & friends.

Tubga U. Lithonia, GA

I enjoyed this book because it was very straightforward and to the point. The author did not mask her feelings about what she was experiencing on her journey to healing.

Cancer Clinical Trail Experiences

Enjoyed the author’s perspective and experiences during the exploration to a cure for Cancer via clinical trails.

love this book

The true story give you strength, sense of humor, hope. Thanks for science change the world.

Fuck cancer

So insightful, thoughtful, and beautiful in many parts and had me literally laughing out loud at moments. Great read.

I’m awed

I am not usually a fan of audiobooks read by their authors, but Mary Elizabeth Williams knocked this one right out of the park! Her story is so frank and honest, with much added humor. Many times I thought I was listening to a good friend telling her story, in fact she reminded me very much of my sister-in-law who went through breast cancer and her relationship with her sister. I can’t recommend this book enough! There was sadness, but so much hope.

Perspective

I don't write to rate the story because it is your experience. Obviously, told in the voice of a skilled writer (I always find it interesting how overwhelmed people can share details of a harrowing experience so clearly in hindsight).

While people with cancer die engaging kale and prayer, they also die engaging science. The correlating statement at the end feels belittling of the cancer patients and their families for whom science had no answer, their disease showed up with "poor timing" and Kale and prayer were the only things that didn't feel like totally giving up.

Believe!

I have metastatic breast cancer, this book has given me hope that was not there before. Thank you, Mary Elizabeth Williams! Great job, I think it should be a movie!

Excellent in-depth view of cancer

I really appreciated how the author could share her feelings from the very beginning of finding out she had cancer and taking us with her through her experience.

Touching

Wasn’t sure how I would feel going into this book but man did it touch every emotion in my body. I could visualize every part of this book as it was read. God bless