Unwashed Radishes

A Memoir of Love, Hope, Learning, and Loss... Harry Hersh was an exceptional man: an outstanding trial lawyer, a devoted and inspiring father, a loyal and high-spirited friend. His charisma, integrity, and humor drew people to him everywhere he went. At the center of his life were his children and his wife, Carole, survivor of a childhood marked by emotional neglect... Carole, the love of his life, who had adored Harry for nearly four decades. They had it all: a loving marriage, wonderful children, sincere friends, a life that many would envy. However, their lives took an unexpected turn when at the age of 60, Harry was diagnosed with an aggressive type of leukemia. The only hope for his recovery was a stem cell transplant...and thus began Harry and Carole's joyous, sorrowful, dangerous interaction with the generous young man who became Harry's donor. The protocols of the program strictly forbade donors and recipients to meet or to identify themselves...but the Hershes and Harry's donor, whom they nicknamed "Phoenix," broke the rules to get to know one another. This searingly honest, funny, heartbreaking, and compelling memoir is a cautionary tale, a beautiful family portrait, a testament to the importance of friends...and most of all, it is a love letter from a devoted wife to the husband who was the stability in her life. Comforting and real, this book is a gift to anyone who is facing the grief and stress of a loved one's serious illness.