The experiences of Dr. Snyders as well as the other nurses, doctors and associated staff relative to their necessary maturation developed after personal involvement with the care of seriously ill patients at Chicago's Cook County Hospital. These events were most compelling and brought about their sudden and sometimes necessary opportunity to "grow up" on short notice. Only their direct and self-effacing urgent and selfless responses to such mental and physical events by their assigned patient clientele could effect such a necessary maturation process. The book covers the Polio Epidemic as it took hold in Chicago's Cook County Hospital and Dr. Snyders' time in the Korean War, learning through the "School of Hard Knocks" the trials and tribulations of life.