From Megan Deeter
February 21, 2025
Caregivers are the spouses, siblings, children, or friends of the one who was diagnosed with cancer and they are a vital part of the care team. However, caregivers regularly get overlooked and tend to ignore their own needs in service to their patients. If asked, they would say it didn’t matter. Their loved one needed them and that’s all that mattered. Kathy Dixon, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, is one such caregiver who had no hesitation in taking care of her husband Steve over the 12 years he lived with cancer.
High school sweethearts, Kathy and Steve eloped at the age of 20. She shares, “It was real; it was not scripted. We ran away and got married, and then we said, ‘Oh shoot, now we gotta go home.’” From then on, Kathy and Steve supported each other through college, their careers, the deaths of loved ones, and raising their two sons.
On Thanksgiving Day in 2012, at the age of 60, Steve was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). He was only 8 years out from having a coronary bypass surgery. No stranger to hardship, Kathy immediately stepped up to take care of her husband. She researched his conditions, treatment plan, and medications, and was able to share stories of other patients, trying to provide hope for both her and Steve. As a former teacher, she focused on knowledge and let that be her guide as they started this journey. Kathy says, “This was not about me; this is his story, and I, as his wife for 53 years, it’s for better or worse, for sickness, and in health.”
OHC medical oncologist and hematologist Prasad R. Kudalkar, MD, Steve’s doctor at OHC Fairfield, tried several different chemotherapy combinations to find a therapy that Steve tolerated and would help eradicate his cancer. After several months of therapy, Steve was in remission, where he remained for six years. “Steve fought hard for remission and Kathy was there by his side every step of the way,” adds Dr. Kudalkar.
With Steve in remission, their focus shifted to the future and what that future would include. “I became steadfast that tomorrow is tomorrow, and what do we want to do, where do we want to go?” explains Kathy. Steve looked at their young granddaughters, only two of them at the time, and knew that what he wanted to do was be there for them. He retired and he and Kathy began their life as devoted grandparents to their three granddaughters, Allison, Morgan, and Elliana.
Steve’s relationship with his ‘grandgirls’ was a source of immense joy. He even named his boat after them, ALIMOEL, a combination of their names. He and Kathy focused on living life to the fullest. They traveled to Florida when they wanted, went boating, one of Steve’s favorite activities, and continued following their deeply seated religious beliefs. “We have a deep faith and why we’re here. We have to sit back and say, ‘what do I do today to make myself a better person and what can I do today to help somebody else’s life be a little bit less cumbersome,’” adds Kathy.
Despite their joy, Steve’s leukemia returned in 2019. He continued with new treatments, fighting the cancer and maintaining his lifestyle as best he could. In May of 2024, he went into the hospital the Sunday before Memorial Day. His heart was tired and had been weakened by the cancer and treatments. He initially rejected treatment, but Kathy asked him to reconsider, to try the medication. He relented, listening to this woman who had been by his side caring for him for 53 years. Unfortunately, the treatment didn’t work, and Steve passed on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at the age of 71.
When Steve went into the hospital, his granddaughters came to visit him. Kathy shares, “As he lay there knowing he was dying, the girls were in that waiting room. My son said ‘Dad the girls want to come back to see you and talk with you for a little bit,’ and he said ‘No, you tell them I’ll see them when I get home.’ Well, he did go home, and they knew what he meant.”
OHC patient caregiver Kathy Dixon poses with a sign she bought to remind her of her husband, Steve, who passed from his cancer diagnosis in May 2024.
Throughout Steve’s journey at OHC, Kathy felt a sense of calm thanks to their care team. “The nurses and Dr. Kudalkar all gave me peace of mind, when I researched and when I had questions. They were always ready to help,” explains Kathy. “There isn’t one person there who didn’t help us. I can’t say enough about the entire team at OHC [Fairfield].”
In honor of Steve’s life and the care he received at OHC, Kathy donated to the OHC Foundation after his passing. “We’d discussed it together when he was alive, that we’d donate. I want that donation to be something that will help somebody else and perhaps give them the same hope we had. My hope is that they will recognize God’s hands in their life. And hopefully, my story will encourage others to help someone else financially if they are able.”
Kathy’s story is an inspiration in many ways. Her love for her husband, the resilience they both shared, and the desire to give back cannot be ignored. Kathy is dedicated to honoring her husband in the best ways she knows how: by visiting his favorite places, doing his favorite things, and spending time with the granddaughters he would have done anything for. A true caregiver, Kathy now looks on to a different future than she expected but is focused on strength and perseverance.
If you would like to learn more about OHC Fairfield, Dr. Kudalkar, or if you’d like to support the OHC Foundation, please visit ohcare.com.
*Pictured above are Steve and Kathy Dixon with their granddaughters in the spring of 2024.
