Heroes who are fighting childhood cancer
Caregivers and a doctor couple who are saving young lives.
DRS. DAN D'ANGIO and AUDREY EVANS: The first couple of caregiving
When D'Angio and Evans started practicing medicine, the cure rate for childhood cancers was maybe 10 to 20 percent in the most hopeful cases. Now, it's close to 80 percent across the board, and both have been handmaidens to that miracle.
Evans, who founded the first Ronald McDonald House, pioneered some of the life-saving medicines now used routinely to treat childhood cancer. D'Angio has done extensive groundbreaking research and thinking in the field.
The two have worked together in the childhood-cancer trenches since 1957 and alongside each other at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for 32 years — the last three as husband and wife. "We thought it would be cheaper if we did it this way," Evans jokes.
They live in Rittenhouse Square and are regulars at the opera, the orchestra and Di Bruno Brothers. Both still report to work every day. "He drives the car and I walk," Evans says. "That's where I get my exercise."
ANNE MARIE GALLAGHER: Supernurse
If angels walk the earth, children's cancer wards are one of their stomping grounds. We've chosen Gallagher as our token angel so you can see what one looks like in the flesh. She lives in Pennsauken and is a beloved oncology nurse at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.
This is not to slight the angelic host of other nurses in and around Philadelphia (and social workers, med-techs, nutritionists, housekeeping heroes, volunteers, ad infinitum) who earn their wings every day caring for young cancer patients. If we had room in the newspaper — or maybe one of those pinheads you hear about — we'd shout out a hallelujah individually to every one.