Marcy Nash Maciejewski made an impact on this earth that will not be forgotten. She took pride in being a medical-surgical nurse and found it rewarding to teach peritoneal dialysis to patients with chronic kidney disease. Although she died an untimely death at 45, she was able to see her family and enjoy her hometown Chicago in her last days. Marcy was able to donate her kidneys, which gave life back to two mothers whom her family has since met. Her husband Ed is passionate about donation, and The Marsha Nash Maciejewski Scholarship Foundation now assists transplant recipients or their children who are faced with financial hardships to afford better educations.

Marcy's Story

Marcy Nash Maciejewski made an impact on this earth during her life that will not be forgotten. She was a renaissance woman whose free spirit embraced adventure and the unknown. Her positive attitude and infectious smile were contagious.

Born and raised in Chicago, Marcy married her husband Ed in 1994. The couple moved to Charlotte, NC, where she became a registered nurse, working in the area's leading hospitals as a medical-surgical nurse.

Marcy later chose the rewarding practice of teaching peritoneal dialysis at DaVita, where she gave dozens of patients with chronic kidney disease a means to enjoy a higher quality of life. Marcy became excited when she received a call from one of her patients telling her that a kidney had become available for them. At the same time she realized that a tragedy made the donation possible.

Ironic and bittersweet, Marcy was able to celebrate her fondness for her childhood home in the last week of her life. Traveling with best friends to a family event, she served as their tour guide and visited the best of what she remembered from growing up in Chicago.

Marcy unwittingly created a bucket list just days before her tragic death at 45. She was always a strong advocate of organ donation. Her decision to donate changed the futures of two women and their families with her ultimate gifts of life on September 19, 2009. Marcy's family was able to meet both kidney recipients, who have excellent prognoses for long and healthy lives.

Ed is passionate about promoting organ donation, particularly through the Marsha Nash Maciejewski Scholarship Foundation, which was originally established to support students at Marcy's struggling 135-year old hometown school. The organization has since expanded nationally to assist organ transplant recipients or their children, faced with financial hardships, to afford better education.

Marcy was an inspiration to all who knew her enthusiasm for life. Her spirit continues to live on through the countless lives she touched.