Physician Provides Comfort And Care Through Child's Battle With Cancer

"We can go to work in the morning not only because we want to stamp out this dreaded disease, but because of what we get back from these children. They show us incredible love." — Kevin McRedmond, M.D.

“The staff members she came in contact with at the hospital were so impressed by her. They’d ask me, ‘Who is that little girl? You have to make her better,’ ” Dr. Kevin McRedmond said.

Yet the brain tumor that brought Caitlin to the pediatric oncologist at the USC School of Medicine was an aggressive one, and on December 11, 1999, the 11-year-old died. The care and concern that Dr. McRedmond provided to Caitlin and her family is something that impacted their lives as profoundly as the disease itself.

By the time Kathy and Tony Hill were referred to Dr. McRedmond, their daughter had already undergone two surgeries. After the second operation, they learned that her brain tumor was malignant. While chemotherapy and radiation treatments initially seemed to control the tumor, eventually Caitlin started to decline. Over the course of the next two and one-half years, Dr. McRedmond became an unwavering source of support to the Hills through an extremely difficult time. “He and I bonded. Dr. Kevin was more like a friend who knew a whole lot about a big problem we had,” said Kathy.

The Hills also found a compassionate educator in Kevin McRedmond. “He always tried to explain everything even though that took so much more time on his part. He’s a doctor and a very intelligent man, yet he treats parents like they are also intelligent and know what they’re doing as well,” Tony said. Dr. McRedmond understands the questions, concerns, and fears of parents with very sick children. “There are few more horrific diseases than cancer in a child. We know that everyone in the family’s lives change with the diagnosis, and we are devoted to treating the whole family,” he said of the physicians, nurses, and the psychosocial team at the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

 “He met me where I needed to be met,” said Kathy, who found acceptance from Dr. McRedmond in the couple’s decision not to explain to Caitlin that her illness was terminal. “Did she know she was dying? Yes. Did I tell her that? No,” Kathy said. She went on, “Dr. Kevin told us, ‘We’ll work together to keep her comfortable. It doesn’t look good, but at the same time miracles do happen. We’ll pray for a miracle.’ ”

 “The number one need that families have is to know that their child is going to get better, but we cannot guarantee that,” Dr. McRedmond explained. He added, “We strive very hard to make their lives better while they are sick. We want to make sure that they can be children and that they can be a family together.”

As Caitlin’s physical condition deteriorated, it became more difficult for her mother to transport her for appointments at the center. It wasn’t uncommon for Dr. McRedmond to stop by the Hills’ home to check on the little girl. “I never asked; he offered,” Kathy said. So when Caitlin spent her last hours at home, it felt natural that Dr. Kevin was there along with a gathering of family members.

 “I preach to the residents and medical students that you spend all these years learning how to take care of very sick people. The time they need you the most is when their child or family member is dying. You don’t have to do or say anything; it is a great comfort just that you cared enough to be there,” Dr. McRedmond said.

He acknowledges the grief that is unavoidable in his subspecialty. “It’s just beyond sad when children die. Yet we know that 75 percent of the patients we treat are going to be cured. We can go to work in the morning not only because we want to stamp out this dreaded disease, but because of what we get back from these children. They show us incredible love. They fall in love with us just like we fall in love with them,” he said.

Reprinted from Connections newsletter, November 2002

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