Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, or FAP, accounts for roughly 1 percent of hereditary colorectal cancer and carries an extremely high lifetime risk of colon cancer and elevated risks for other exceedingly rare cancers. It is an autosomal dominant condition caused by germline mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. By the age of fifty, nearly 99 percent of untreated FAP patients will have developed cancer.
This is the dark shadow that has lingered over one family since at least 1911, when a matriarch was first seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for symptoms that would become commonplace in her descendants. Three of her five children died in their thirties with what they’d come to call “summer’s complaint.” Her granddaughter, genetically programmed by a defect on her 5th chromosome also developed cancer, which would ultimately take her life.
This is that family’s sometimes tragic story. As told by a daughter, aunt, and sister who has been surrounded by its relentless destruction her entire life, Summer’s Complaint is at once a testament to the courage of those one family has lost and a journey toward understanding hereditary predispositions to disease and how best to combat them.
Cancer is a topic that many of us will avoid discussing because virtually all of us has been touched by Cancer in some way and so it takes the brave few who have been affected to discuss it, and Summer’s Complaint is about Cancer and in particular, the author and her family’s experience with it. However, the book is not just about this and rather chronicles the life of an exceptional woman and family, and I am so thankful to have Laura Kieger’s story. Summer’s Complaint is a poignant and profound memoir written by the incredibly talented author, Laura Kieger and throughout Summer’s Complaint, she will take her readers on a moving journey that will surely move and touch readers from start to finish. Summer’s Complaint is mostly a memoir; however, it is in part a medical book thanks to the discussion of FAP (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis). Summer’s Complaint is indeed a stunning memoir and should not be missed; Laura’s story is, of course, heartbreaking at times but it is mostly inspiring and will generate awareness not only on FAP but also how it affects yours and your family’s life. Summer’s Complaint is a profoundly moving memoir, and so I already have to recommend this gem of a book but if you need more convincing then continue to read to learn more!
Summer’s Complaint is an exceptional memoir that will introduce the reader to Laura Kieger and Laura will perfectly guide her readers through her journey in which much is to be learned. Summer’s Complaint is an emotional book that explores FAP and hereditary cancer and how it affects families. The reader will learn of Laura’s family and the ‘dark shadow’ that has lingered over it from 1911. The matriarch of the family in 1911 first got the symptoms which would be common in her descendants and Laura goes on to tell us that three of her five children dies in their thirties because of FAP and this book lovers is the premise of Summer’s Complaint.
The journey the reader encounters at times is incredibly hard hitting and upsetting, but it is also very inspiring thanks to Laura’s outlook on life. The journey the reader is taken on really is an incredibly poignant one and gives the reader a first-person perspective on what it really is like to be apart of a family which lives with FAP.
Laura Kieger is a phenomenal woman who impressed me with her flawless literature and incredible personality. Laura is most undoubtedly passionate about spreading awareness about FAP and hereditary cancers, and she is doing great work to do this thanks to this book of hers which spreads awareness wonderfully.
Laura’s story will speak volumes to many readers, particularly those that have Cancer, or are in recovery or even those that have experienced great hardship. This is because Laura’s story is an inspiring one because Laura is incredibly positive as well as optimistic. Laura is the type of woman that does not stop, even when life tries to stop you in your tracks and these are qualities and attributes that will inspire those that have an, and that was amazing to me.
Overall Summer’s Complaint is an informative, well-written memoir with words that flow beautifully throughout; I have no choice but to award this stunning book a brilliant five stars. If you are a reader who loves memoirs with a purpose then Summer’s Complaint is for you and should not be missed!
Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I appreciate it so much, I love discussing wonderful books with all of you so please comment below and let me know your thoughts on Summer’s Complaint. Do you see yourself reading this book? Do you love the genre? Please let me know your brilliant thoughts below and I will be sure to comment back. Thank you so much again for reading!
Goodbye for now book lovers,
P.S. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is follow the links below!
Below I have attached some links about the author and this wonderful book so if you would like to learn more about the author and the book then please have a browse. Thank you so much again for reading book lovers, I can’t wait to read your thoughts on this book!
Amazon U.S. – Amazon U.K. – Goodreads
Laura Kieger: Twitter – Website – LinkedIn
Thank you so much again for reading!
