Summary

The book begins with a prologue describing what Michael Gillick's life was like. Michael was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was three months old. Doctors suspected he had developed the cancer in utero. What followed was a life of chemotherapy and a large volume of regular medications. As a result of his disease, and the side effects of the medications, Gillick was in nearly constant pain, nauseous, and weak. As an adult, he stood at 4 foot, 6 inches tall, and weighed 100 pounds. Born in 1979, he was nevertheless mistaken for a child in public. He lost the ability of sight in one eye and hearing in one ear, and his face was constantly bloated. Because of how difficult it was for him to get out, he did not work and his attempt at college ended after one semester. He also did not have much...