It's always enriching to learn about one of the many (many) unsung heroines of our time, and "Audrey's Children," which features the visionary doctor behind the Ronald McDonald House, has an even greater impact by being released at a time when funding for pediatric cancer has been completely cut from the U.S. budget. The filmmakers never imagined this would happen, and perhaps, if enough people see their powerful film, it will spark the necessary outrage to reverse that decision, revealing that Dr. Audrey Evans has made another vital contribution to the field.
Director Ami Canaan Mann's biopic opens with actual footage of Dr. Sidney Farber, founder of the Children's Cancer Research Foundation (now the prestigious Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), speaking about his optimistic outlook on cancer control. From there, the film moves to 1969, when her protégé, Dr. Evans (Natalie Dormer), becomes the new Chief of Pediatric Oncology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Director: Ami Canaan Mann
Writer: Julia Fisher Farbman
Stars: Clancy Brown, Natalie Dormer, Jimmi Simpson
As she comforts her young patients and their families and tries to make their environment more cheerful and comfortable while conducting the scientific work that will eventually save countless lives and earn her the title "Mother of Neuroblastoma," it's obvious she does things very differently than her male colleagues, and they don't like it. The blatant misogyny is palpable, as, despite her impressive credentials, they speak condescendingly to her and simply dismiss her suggestions and recommendations.
What they don't yet understand is that, despite her pretty dresses and lilting British accent, Dr. Evans is a tough woman who refuses to take "no" for an answer, especially when it comes to the young patients she considers her "children." She fights against sexism, protocol, the way things have always been done, and against those who try to stop her. And you know what? Thanks to the Evans Staging System she developed, 85% of children survive neuroblastoma, while before her groundbreaking discoveries, only 10% did.
And you know what else? Because she truly saw the difficulties experienced by the families of young cancer patients, she helped create the first Ronald McDonald House to provide a home away from home while their children were in the hospital. There are currently more than 385 Ronald McDonald House programs around the world, supporting millions of families.
Audrey's Children is inspiring, with Natalie Dormer living up to the real Dr. Evans. While science has come a long way thanks to doctors like her, it's sobering to see how little progress we've made in the last half-century in recognizing and supporting the women responsible for improving and saving so many lives.
I hope the families of young cancer patients see this film, contact their elected officials to emphasize the importance of funding research, and encourage them to see it as well. As Dr. Evans well understood, those who hold the checkbook are the ones who will ultimately determine whether Sidney Farber's prediction comes true and a cure for cancer is finally found.
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