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Chance at Life
Hardcover
Mystery & ThrillerGeneral Fiction
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Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Published: Jul 8 2025
Pages: 306
Weight: 1.08
Height: 0.81 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Chance at Life provides a portal into the lives of dialysis unit 'regulars, ' both patients and staff. Together they confront life's limitations and its certain end, with unique stories of struggle, hope, and resilience.
Rachel is a novice nurse whose well-intentioned choices put her career in jeopardy. Her personal life disintegrates when she discovers that she is pregnant, and her fiancé abuses her.
Kidney failure derailed Darnell's career path. He waits in vain for a transplant, losing hope as long days on dialysis consume his future.
Elizabeth, a seasoned nurse practitioner, faces her own failing kidneys and decides to refuse dialysis, planning to let nature take its course-though her daughters and her doctor won't let her go so easily.
The dialysis unit is a high-stakes cauldron of conflicts and ethical dilemmas. A machine malfunction claims one patient's life, another patient buys a black-market kidney, and another patient withdraws from dialysis entirely, throwing herself a goodbye party. Covid 19 arrives, bringing an entirely new dimension to the daily dramas.
Chance at Life is a gripping, poignant exploration of the human spirit and the unforeseen connections that form in the most trying of circumstances, perfect for those who appreciate medical dramas filled with real-world challenges and heartfelt storytelling.
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Busch takes special care to balance the devastating lows with the highs of life, like the feeling of gratitude, appreciation, love, and friendship. A real tear-jerker of a story, Chance at Life highlights humanity's struggles from various angles, especially from those suffering with chronic illness and their loved ones who try to help and support as much as possible. - Chelsey Tucker for Independent Book Review
Chance at Life is a poignant narrative that effectively intertwines medical education with personal storytelling, making complex topics, such as dialysis, systemic racism in healthcare, domestic abuse, the COVID-19 pandemic, and unplanned pregnancy, accessible and relatable. By sharing individual patient stories, Busch fosters empathy and understanding. - Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
Susan Ellison Busch's writing is outstanding, highlighting the drama of the clinic alongside quiet moments of personal reflection. The narrative is compelling, emphasizing that behind every medical statistic lies a human story filled with struggle, hope, and the desire for dignity. - Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
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