Title: $50 saved my life
Author: Mala Balram Slowe
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 979-8-3694-0596-3
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 86
Reviewed by: Allison Walker

Read Book Review

Occasionally, a seemingly innocuous comment sets off a life-changing series of events.
Mala Balram Slowe is working as a medical coordinator at a hospital when a coworker
reminds her of the $50 incentive their health insurance provider pays when patients
receive their yearly wellness check. Slowe has already scheduled all of her yearly
exams – except one, she realizes. She hasn’t had her yearly mammogram. Although it’s
recommended for women her age, Slowe’s good health and lack of symptoms had
convinced her to put it off. The $50 incentive though, and knowing it’s the responsible
thing to do, convinces Slowe to schedule. And that’s how a coworker’s innocuous
comment forever changes Slowe’s life.

In her memoir, $50 saved my life, author and cancer survivor Mala Balram Slowe takes
readers on a remarkable journey of hope, resilience, and the extraordinary power of the
human spirit. When Slowe’s mammogram reveals an aggressive form of breast cancer,
the trajectory of her life abruptly turns in another direction. From the non-stop bustle of a
busy social life to the sudden challenges of an unexpected diagnosis, Slowe’s story
becomes a vivid exploration of the highs and lows that accompany an aggressive
cancer diagnosis. As Slowe confronts her diagnosis and subsequent treatment, she
grapples with profound questions about personal priorities, the fragility of health, and
the lasting impact of unexpected turns. $50 saved my life is a poignant testament to the
strength of the human spirit and the indomitable will to overcome in the face of
adversity.

Slowe writes honestly about the huge shift in her mindset from a busy social schedule,
where her biggest concern is what to buy her daughter for Christmas, to dealing with the
uncertainty and despair of a cancer diagnosis. However, readers interested in Slowe’s
battle with breast cancer will spend the first half of the book wading through the many
Memorial Day weekend parties Slowe attended. While the great detail is very successful
in demonstrating the radical shift Slowe’s life takes after her diagnosis, the memoir is a
little slow to get started. After her diagnosis, Slowe chooses to focus the memoir on her
emotional journey rather than the medical minutiae of what her treatment included. For
example, Slowe explains that her treatment included surgery, chemotherapy and
reconstruction. Rather than focus on the physical details of those, Slowe shares how
necessary and helpful it was for her to have a strong support system of family and
friends. “Their love and understanding provided a lifeline,” she writes.

The memoir is a heartfelt and inspiring account which serves as a reminder of the
extraordinary ways in which the smallest events can shape our lives. Slowe’s journey
becomes a powerful narrative of hope and resilience, demonstrating the transformative
potential inherent in seemingly ordinary moments.

$50 saved my life is a beautifully crafted memoir which delves into the emotions of the
human experience. Slowe’s introspective exploration of personal growth makes this
book a captivating read that resonates with readers on a profound level.