Neil David Schwartz begins the story about the untimely deaths of his wife of thirty-two years and their twenty-seven-year-old daughter by reflecting on his own life and the lives of his ancestors. In short, it is very much a memoir that describes what led him to the events that began to unfold on Memorial Day in 2010. In a humorous and touching way he describes how his family migrated from Poland to Los Angeles, by way of Arizona, and gives us a picture of what awaited him when he was born in L.A in the late 1940s. After a brief introduction to his upbringing, he takes us through the early frustrations of meeting and sometime later marrying the girl of his dreams, Joanne, a woman of great beauty who was loved by all who knew her. He and his bride built a family together consisting of a son, Scott, and his daughter, Amy. For thirty years they watched their children grow and become productive members of society. Amy went into the television industry and later into teaching, a career move that puts her into a job she learns to love, working with children. Unfortunately, in her mid-twenties, Amy, the girl with the bright smile and beautiful, big, brown eyes is diagnosed with cancer. For the first year of treatment, Joanne is the lead caregiver to her daughter, but the task becomes too great for her. When she dies suddenly, literally from a broken heart, Neil takes on the roles of father, mother, and caregiver.

His objective account of her treatment and the heart-rending insights into Amy’s strength and character will inspire you. It will also lead you to ask yourself, “What if tomorrow never comes?” I read the last third of this book with a lump in my throat. I recommend it without reservation. It is a fitting memorial to two women I would have been proud and happy to know.

What If Tomorrow Never Comes is a memoir by Neil David Schwartz, a successful, well-known Los Angeles attorney with a quiet suburban life and a loving family. Married to his wife Joanne for 32 years, his life was turned upside down when Joanne died, a death caused by cardiopulmonary arrest – literally a broken heart due to the stress that she had to endure regarding her daughter’s cancer. He then became the caretaker of his ill 27-year-old daughter Amy, who succumbed to lung cancer three months later.

This memoir is very personal, with Schwartz sharing intimate details of his grandparents, his father, and his life with Joanne; their first meeting, their separation and reunion, as well as the birth of their children, Scott and Amy. The dark moments when Amy was diagnosed with cancer was intense, a powerful reminder how shockingly unpredictable life could be. The tiring efforts of seeking the best treatments and doctors, hospitalizations, and even putting up with parasitic-like Nurse Peggy were overwhelming. Readers also get a glimpse into Schwartz’s mind as he tries to make sense of the world, trying to recover from losing both his wife and daughter. We follow his journey of resurgence through his shared insight of spiritualism.

All in all, What If Tomorrow Never Comes is a wonderful memoir filled with love, joy, and laughter. Yet it is also a heartbreaking memoir. There are some parts that are quite hard to read without shedding a tear, especially with Schwartz’s honest narrative. That being said, this is a powerful and unforgettable chronicle from a wonderful husband and father.