Sigurdur Sigurdsson, lovingly known as Dr. Sig by his colleagues, was an Iceland-born medical doctor who practiced anesthesia in Dallas, Texas from 1992 to 2020. Being a doctor, he took great care in keeping his blood pressure and cholesterol in check. He had his colonoscopies as recommended, took vitamins regularly, and maintained a steady fitness routine. When he was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in the spring of 2018, it came as a complete shock – with no family history of this disease, it was the last thing he imagined he would get. With his care team at UT Southwestern, he decided to wage war on the cancer, beginning an aggressive treatment regime that included chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and four trips to Germany for treatments not yet available in the U.S. Dr. Sig maintained a positive attitude throughout the course of his treatments and did his best to carry on as usual. He continued working until the spring of 2020 when the disease made it too difficult for him, and he passed away in the fall.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sig was concerned for those who could not afford medical care. He became more acutely aware of the burdens of high medical bills as his own came pouring in. While he was thankful to have the resources for his own expenses, he felt the unfairness. This was especially evident to him as he met fellow American patients in Germany and saw how few prostate cancer patients had this as a viable treatment option.
To this end, this memorial fund will seek opportunities with two purposes in mind:
- To provide financial assistance with medical expenses to those in need.
- To provide funds toward prostate cancer research and early detection programs through UT Southwestern.
Dr. Sig’s warmth and kindness will be missed, but his care for patients will continue.