Chasing Zebras: A Memoir of Genetics, Mental Health and Writing

by Margaret Nowaczyk

When Margaret Nowaczyk immigrated to Canada with her family from Poland she was determined to be Canadian, whatever that meant, and she was equally determined to be a doctor. Arriving as a teen with an English vocabulary deeply influenced by the few English books she had, including Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil, Margaret made her way through medical school at the University of Toronto, followed by residencies at Toronto's SickKids until she settled in at McMaster University Hospital as a clinical geneticist. From leaving Communist Poland to enduring the demands of medical school, through living with a long undiagnosed mental illness to discovering the fascinating field of genetics, plunging into the pressures of prenatal diagnosis and finally finding the tools of writing and of narrative medicine, Margaret shares a journey that is both inspiring and harrowing. This is a story of constant effort, of growth, of tragedy and of triumph, and most of all, of the importance of openness. In the end, Dr. Nowaczyk invites us all to see that "life is precious and fragile and wondrous and full of mistakes." And to keep trying.

Genres: Memoir

300 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 2021

Reviews

[Jack M]

The beginning of this memoir spoke dearly to me, as my family made the same move from Poland to Canada not long after the author, and so many of our experiences overlapped. And later on, I loved to read about my old haunts - there’s something really special about reading about the place you grew up in, and as far as I know there’s not a lot written about Toronto, at least not during the 90’s and 00’s. Back when Toronto was ‘good’, if I’m to believe today’s rhetoric. And it was! Twelve hour study sessions inside Robart’s library fueled by vending machine snacks and then a walk down Bloor Street. I loved Toronto then, it was the center of the universe.

I found the middle part of the book to be claustrophobic as the entire time we’re taken directly from one internship/residency/study to another, leaving little room for anything else, however I’m aware that this is the reality of a medical student. The parts on genetic diseases and study are plentiful and less interesting for myself. Perhaps due to the competitive nature of becoming a doctor in Canada (side thought: why is it so competitive? If you have the desire to do that, why limit certain placements to four people nationwide? I don’t understand this. I prefer the approach taken in the Netherlands where anyone can become a doctor (I think). Not to mention the absence of financial limitations), I found the author at times immodest in her achievements (getting straight A’s, a coveted research position, being the first to spot a genetic disease). Though to be fair, she does not shy away from sharing her failures, and she displays bravery in sharing her mental struggles with the world.

This is clearly an immigrant success story; the determination to overcome all the obstacles to become a world renowned geneticist and now author, which brings to question my own experience, which I’m comfortable calling a failure (I mean in the immigrant sense - where I feel I have not lived up to the sacrifices that my parents made). With that said, I’m hoping to read more about the Polish Canadian experience and have already moved on to Nowaczyk’s essay collection.

[Mark Coakley]

A fascinating view of the medical profession, told by an insider. Well-written. The author shares her life's journey with wit and deep emotion. Highly recommended.

[Karen]

This was a most interesting memoir for all of the reasons named in the title. Margaret was open and honest about her mental health issues yet is a brilliant geneticist with the most interesting stories to tell. When she discovered narrative medicine it was most helpful not only to her patients - it also grounded her. Her writing skills are excellent. An immigrant from Poland she is the ultimate success story. Arriving in Canada with little English to speak of, within 4 years she was attending medical school. I love that she practices in my neighbourhood town of Hamilton and I was able to see her last spring at our local library. Through FB she tells me she has another book arriving in the spring of 2024. I will definitely read it. Chasing Zebra’s is not her first book, she is also published in Poland with two previous books.

Read the book, you won’t be sorry. It’s a very worthwhile read.

[Jane Mulkewich]

I am so glad to have read this book! I have not met the author, but we live in the same place (Hamilton, Ontario) so I hope to meet her one day. She is a successful pediatric clinical geneticist, and now a successful author and contributing to the field of narrative medicine. She is so brave in sharing her own stories of mental illness. Her memoir starts with her childhood in Poland to her experiences of getting into medical school as a recent immigrant in Canada and takes us through every stage of her career with the insights she gained along the way working with children born with genetic conditions, and her own personal journey with herself and family members. This book is a tribute to what it means to be a good doctor - one who really listens to their patients' stories!

[Alison Gadsby]

This was a gorgeous, intimate, and very personal story about mental health, love and achievement. Margaret brought me into her life, into her mind, and shared the most challenging moments in her life and this book has made me more able to forgive myself and the pressure I feel sometimes to be better than I am.

This novel also talks about the relationship between diagnostician and patient in heartbreaking terms that will hopefully help readers to understand the challenges doctors face when building relationships with patients and their families.

Check out her stories if you want a taste. They are linked on her website. https://www.margaretnowaczyk.ca/writing

[Dominika Grzelak]

This was a heavy read and at times felt somewhat textbook-like, but I really enjoyed it. I was really shocked by Margaret's views sometimes and the ableism was difficult to read about, however I also really appreciate her honesty and her journey in unlearning. Overall it's an incredible story of accomplishment, overcoming hardship, and emotional growth, and as a fellow Polish immigrant I appreciated it so much.

[Nancy Andrejciw]

A beautiful memoir written by a beautiful person. We were privileged to have Dr. Nowaczyk look after our little girl during her very short life. I read her book with much love in my heart as she writes of her journey and I was so happy for her with every happy moment and triumph. So honestly and gracefully written.

[Jack Douketis]

First there was the bible, then came Harry Potter, now there is Chasing Zebras. Quite simply the best book I’ve ever read.