A bone marrow drive is planned for next week in Iowa City, following a drive this week in Davenport, with the goal of recruiting 20,000 new bone marrow donors. Thousands of people have life-threatening blood diseases that require a bone marrow transplant, including Dr. Stephen Alldredge, a cardiologist in Bettendorf.
His wife, Roxanne Alldredge, says the need is urgent. She says, "Without having a new bone marrow implanted into them, they will not make it, they will die." Alldredge has a blood disease called M-D-S, also known as pre-leukemia.
Mrs. Alldredge says she’s coming to grips with the fact her husband’s days are numbered without a transplant. She says, "Most people wind up dying of a severe infection because they don’t have the immune response they need to fight off infection."
Eligible donors need to be in good health and between the ages of 18 and 60. The test is simple and painless. The next donor drive is set for Thursday, May 17th, at University Hospitals in Iowa City.