Q-C cardiologist succumbs to leukemia

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By Ann McGlynn | Friday, October 3, 2008 10:13 PM CDT | () comments

Friday, friends, family, co-workers and patients will walk in memory of Stephen Alldredge at the Light the Night Walk at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Sick and in intensive care at the hospital, Stephen Alldredge heard the name of one of his patients mentioned out in the hallway.

Alldredge, a Quad-City cardiologist battling leukemia, wanted to know what happened to that patient, why the patient was sick enough to require hospitalization.

“I have patients to take care of,” he would tell his wife, Roxey.

And he did. Alldredge had hundreds of patients who needed help mending their hearts. His friends, co-workers and family said he was most kind, most compassionate and most thorough in his care for each and every person who came his way.

“He made everyone feel comfortable,” his wife said. “The day he was diagnosed, his main concern was that he hadn’t helped enough people.”

What followed after his diagnosis was a bone marrow drive, a bone marrow transplant in August 2007, a triumphant return to his beloved work in the spring. But then, in July, things started going wrong again.

On Monday, Alldredge learned an aggressive form of leukemia was attacking his body.

On Tuesday, Alldredge came home. In a MedForce helicopter, from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, he arrived at the hospital he practiced at: Genesis Medical Center.

On Wednesday, a close group of friends and family gathered in his room. He told his wife — who fought for and took care of him — she had to let him go.

On Thursday, he died.

Saturday, friends, family, co-workers and patients will walk in his memory at the Light the Night Walk at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport.

On Monday, they will bury him.

“He gave it all that he had,” said Leigh Lykins, a nurse who is helping to organize “Team Alldredge” for the walk Saturday. “He is going to so missed. So missed.”

Alldredge’s memory will carry on in many ways.

Roxey Alldredge will miss the presence of her husband.

A memorial fund will be established in his name.

And there are a handful of people who found their own bone marrow match because of the bone marrow drive held in Alldredge’s honor at Genesis.

“He fought with a real positive attitude that there would be a positive outcome,” Roxey Alldredge said. But then, with the leukemia too aggressive to fight, he decided “it’s OK to give up when there is no other choice.”

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

More Info

The “Light The Night” walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport. “Team Alldredge” will be walking in Steve Alldredge’s memory. For more information, go to lightthenight.org and search for “Team Alldredge.” Anyone is welcome to participate.