Compassionate Physician Will Be Sorely Missed By All Letter Of The Week From May 13

I read with sadness the loving tribute by family, friends, patients and colleagues of Dr. Welzie Allen. His untimely death is a tragedy for us all.

I first met Dr. Allen when my daughter was born in 1987 two months prematurely. She spent 29 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Deaconess Hospital. Of the many doctors who saw my infant daughter during that time, Dr. Allen stands out.

I chuckled when I read that Dr. Allen referred to many of his child patients as “frogs.” I remember that clearly after all these years, because Dr. Allen referred to the premature babies as “polliwogs” or “tadpoles,” depending on their development. This may seem a strange term to some, but coming from Dr. Allen it was said with pure love in his heart.

I remember the day he took my hand and said, “I saw your little tadpole today.” Right then I knew everything was going to be fine.

You could tell when Dr. Allen walked into the hospital that the staff admired him.

Many doctors put themselves on a pedestal but Dr. Allen put his patients on that pedestal and treated everyone with kindness and compassion. God touched many with his loving, healing hands through Dr. Allen.

I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to his family. They can be very proud of what he accomplished, not only for this community but for many around the world. It’s amazing how one man’s life can impact the lives of so many. He will be sorely missed by all. Kathy L. Jacobs Spokane