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Surviving Jane
Dr. David Scholz is looking for a career change. He’s burnt out and is planning a year-long sabbatical to travel and reset before beginning his ophthalmology residency. Counting down the days to his much-needed break, David must contend with all the complications of working at a busy unruly patients, frustrating senior staff, and growing fatigue.During these last weeks, David is given a tough young Jane Doe, a heroin addict, is brought in with severe injuries. Jane does not want to be in the hospital. Belligerent, aggressive, and demanding, Jane tests the boundaries of all the medical staff who attend her.As David grows increasingly disgruntled, a surprising source reminds him why he entered the medical field in the first to help people.An emotional journey featuring addiction, recovery, and hope, Surviving Jane is a richly detailed medical drama that provides an intimate look into life in a busy hospital.
372 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2024
88 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Rodolfo Del Toro
5 books9 followersAfter more than twenty years of being one; Rodo still insists he never intended to be a doctor. On the contrary, during his early teenage years, he dreamt of becoming a musician, screenwriter, or maybe a film director.
It was late in high school, while performing community service (a school requirement, not a punishment, some other community service was indeed punishment; it was a strict Catholic high school) that he was exposed to the medical field. Assigned to help a resident doctor perform his tasks at a local hospital, Rodo unexpectedly felt great satisfaction from helping others.
Making an uncharacteristically mature decision for a teenager, Rodo accepted the challenge, moving ahead after high school and spending the next twelve years between college, medical school, and residency.
Despite having a great professional life and a fantastic family, he felt an urge to do something different, to create. So, in 2015, after a particularly interesting 2014, he decided to sit down to write.
It would take four years to write and publish his first work, Departure Point, a niche piece. It’s a story he is quite proud of, despite the fact that he concedes that it is plagued with far too many mistakes.
Nevertheless, writing and publishing was a rewarding learning experience involving hard lessons learned, helping him realize how little he knew and still had to learn about writing and publishing. This knowledge, or rather lack thereof, helped him approach the writing of his second book, Chasing Rabbits. Not only did it give him newfound determination, it also allowed him to better navigate the road, or at least avoid the previous pitfalls.
Chasing Rabbits was published in March 2020, and despite the challenges 2020 brought forth, it has received great reviews. Today, Rodo continues to write and get the word out on his works when time permits it. Publishing a set of short stories unimaginatively titled Six Short Stories on late 2021, and finally published Surviving Jane, on March 2024.
When away from the word processor, he spends his professional time between his private practice and a part-time medical school teaching appointment. He cherishes the time he gets to spend with his wife and daughters, as well as the dog he emphatically asked them not to get! Funny enough the dog is sleeping on his lap as he writes this. Every so often, he steals time to pursue his writing, and what his wife believes are very unhealthy obsessions with electric guitars and old Land Rover Defenders!
You can follow him on Instagram #del_356
Disclaimer: If you do decide to follow him on Instagram be aware that his posts sometimes lack political correctness, may show lack of intelligence and give a clear glimpse at his other obsessions. His wife certainly thinks so. That been said, he does find his post funny and means no disrespect, you have been warned
It was late in high school, while performing community service (a school requirement, not a punishment, some other community service was indeed punishment; it was a strict Catholic high school) that he was exposed to the medical field. Assigned to help a resident doctor perform his tasks at a local hospital, Rodo unexpectedly felt great satisfaction from helping others.
Making an uncharacteristically mature decision for a teenager, Rodo accepted the challenge, moving ahead after high school and spending the next twelve years between college, medical school, and residency.
Despite having a great professional life and a fantastic family, he felt an urge to do something different, to create. So, in 2015, after a particularly interesting 2014, he decided to sit down to write.
It would take four years to write and publish his first work, Departure Point, a niche piece. It’s a story he is quite proud of, despite the fact that he concedes that it is plagued with far too many mistakes.
Nevertheless, writing and publishing was a rewarding learning experience involving hard lessons learned, helping him realize how little he knew and still had to learn about writing and publishing. This knowledge, or rather lack thereof, helped him approach the writing of his second book, Chasing Rabbits. Not only did it give him newfound determination, it also allowed him to better navigate the road, or at least avoid the previous pitfalls.
Chasing Rabbits was published in March 2020, and despite the challenges 2020 brought forth, it has received great reviews. Today, Rodo continues to write and get the word out on his works when time permits it. Publishing a set of short stories unimaginatively titled Six Short Stories on late 2021, and finally published Surviving Jane, on March 2024.
When away from the word processor, he spends his professional time between his private practice and a part-time medical school teaching appointment. He cherishes the time he gets to spend with his wife and daughters, as well as the dog he emphatically asked them not to get! Funny enough the dog is sleeping on his lap as he writes this. Every so often, he steals time to pursue his writing, and what his wife believes are very unhealthy obsessions with electric guitars and old Land Rover Defenders!
You can follow him on Instagram #del_356
Disclaimer: If you do decide to follow him on Instagram be aware that his posts sometimes lack political correctness, may show lack of intelligence and give a clear glimpse at his other obsessions. His wife certainly thinks so. That been said, he does find his post funny and means no disrespect, you have been warned
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 9, 2024
I'll admit it took me a minute to get into this book but once I did, I couldn't put it down.
August 5, 2024
The Addict and the Dr. you will never forget
I like hospital drama in general but this story was incredible. It was a page turner that pulled you into the characters. You may come away with a better idea of the demons that addicts deal with as well as the daily stress of interns and the patients who become special to them. The ending will surprise you.
I like hospital drama in general but this story was incredible. It was a page turner that pulled you into the characters. You may come away with a better idea of the demons that addicts deal with as well as the daily stress of interns and the patients who become special to them. The ending will surprise you.
April 25, 2024
Learning life's lessons
This is an excellent story about how things can change in one's life. Once, a patient whose doctor helped her want to survive, suddenly, roles can turn around. It's so important to learn lessons from the traumas we go through in our lifetime. I
highly recommend this book!
This is an excellent story about how things can change in one's life. Once, a patient whose doctor helped her want to survive, suddenly, roles can turn around. It's so important to learn lessons from the traumas we go through in our lifetime. I
highly recommend this book!
February 1, 2025
Hospital drama and life lessons. I read it straight through in 2 days. Can't verify the accuracy of hospital procedures, but the writing was clear enough for me to understand the medical stuff The book really depicted the care of doctor and patient, and in turn, patient and doctor, without getting sappy.
December 27, 2025
Surviving Jane is a book I have very mixed feelings about—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The beginning was slow. Painfully slow at times. The writing often felt confusing and hard to follow, with frequent shifts and passages that made me reread pages just to understand what was happening. On top of that, the editing was distractingly bad—grammar errors, typos, and inconsistencies popped up far too often and pulled me out of the story. Honestly, the editor should have caught so much more.
That said… I’m glad I pushed through.
Somewhere along the way, the story began to settle, and by the end it completely wrecked me. The ending was a genuine tear-jerker—emotional, heavy, and absolutely not what I expected. Despite all its flaws, the final payoff carried real emotional weight and stayed with me after I closed the book.
This is one of those novels where the story itself is stronger than the execution. If it had been tighter, cleaner, and better edited, it could have been something truly special.
If you’re patient and willing to push through a rough start and uneven writing, the ending just might make it worth it
The beginning was slow. Painfully slow at times. The writing often felt confusing and hard to follow, with frequent shifts and passages that made me reread pages just to understand what was happening. On top of that, the editing was distractingly bad—grammar errors, typos, and inconsistencies popped up far too often and pulled me out of the story. Honestly, the editor should have caught so much more.
That said… I’m glad I pushed through.
Somewhere along the way, the story began to settle, and by the end it completely wrecked me. The ending was a genuine tear-jerker—emotional, heavy, and absolutely not what I expected. Despite all its flaws, the final payoff carried real emotional weight and stayed with me after I closed the book.
This is one of those novels where the story itself is stronger than the execution. If it had been tighter, cleaner, and better edited, it could have been something truly special.
If you’re patient and willing to push through a rough start and uneven writing, the ending just might make it worth it
December 29, 2025
An addictive story if you pass the beginning
Dr David Scholz is counting the days till the end of his internship and to start his year off abroad. Unfortunately, the last days happened to be the hardest. He struggles to keep his emotions and his professional attitude towards patients. Some he likes- like Professor Taft, and some he cannot stand, like the newly admitted drug addict, Jane. He feels frustrated that he cannot help his favorite musician more, and vexed to keep helping Jane, who pushes everyone’s limits by being rude, arrogant, and ungrateful as she endures detox. One day, he even slammed on her table the forms she kept wanting to get out and go get her next fix. David feels he should be able to help more deserving people who deserve their lives full of purpose, and not the undeserving ones, who gamble with their lives and waste them.
Using the frame of the hospital drama, the story reveals the journey of an addict going through detox, and the journey of dying from both perspectives- the dying and the living person. Suspenseful story. Some editing mistakes and missing words.
Heavy emotional drama. Unexpected twist and ending.
Dr David Scholz is counting the days till the end of his internship and to start his year off abroad. Unfortunately, the last days happened to be the hardest. He struggles to keep his emotions and his professional attitude towards patients. Some he likes- like Professor Taft, and some he cannot stand, like the newly admitted drug addict, Jane. He feels frustrated that he cannot help his favorite musician more, and vexed to keep helping Jane, who pushes everyone’s limits by being rude, arrogant, and ungrateful as she endures detox. One day, he even slammed on her table the forms she kept wanting to get out and go get her next fix. David feels he should be able to help more deserving people who deserve their lives full of purpose, and not the undeserving ones, who gamble with their lives and waste them.
Using the frame of the hospital drama, the story reveals the journey of an addict going through detox, and the journey of dying from both perspectives- the dying and the living person. Suspenseful story. Some editing mistakes and missing words.
Heavy emotional drama. Unexpected twist and ending.
May 3, 2025
Poignant, powerful and meaningful.
I had a hard time getting into the story. I almost quit. Something compelled me to continue. Wow, I was then unable to put it down. This was real for me. Honest, genuine and heartfelt. There are so many ugly mean people in the world which saddens me to the point of isolation. I could identify with each mean narcissist and had to admire the tenacity and drive that kept the good guys going. This will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Rodolfo Del Toro. We alk need to be kinder.
I had a hard time getting into the story. I almost quit. Something compelled me to continue. Wow, I was then unable to put it down. This was real for me. Honest, genuine and heartfelt. There are so many ugly mean people in the world which saddens me to the point of isolation. I could identify with each mean narcissist and had to admire the tenacity and drive that kept the good guys going. This will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Rodolfo Del Toro. We alk need to be kinder.
March 28, 2024
life lessons
Great read! Life lessons well taught. Humbled by the complexity of human nature. Life shows no mercy,
It is within us to recognize the good in us. Would definitely recommend.
Great read! Life lessons well taught. Humbled by the complexity of human nature. Life shows no mercy,
It is within us to recognize the good in us. Would definitely recommend.
April 3, 2024
An amazing Story
The story of Dr. David and his passion for helping others is a must-read for all. See how one persons caring affects others. The surprise ending explains all.
The story of Dr. David and his passion for helping others is a must-read for all. See how one persons caring affects others. The surprise ending explains all.
April 4, 2024
A very gripping book. Very touching too. I certainly hope there are doctors like David. The ending was unexpected and sad. But I guess, that's life!
July 28, 2024
Great book
You should read it. You won’t be disappointed. It is well done and keeps you turning the pages. I loved it.
You should read it. You won’t be disappointed. It is well done and keeps you turning the pages. I loved it.
October 15, 2024
great. book
Great book..loved it. Although it will greatly break your heart. It seriously is a serious book about addiction and early death.
Great book..loved it. Although it will greatly break your heart. It seriously is a serious book about addiction and early death.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews