Marjorie Woodcock, who goes by Margie, has experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of a kidney transplant. After undergoing dialysis at Northwest Kidney Centers’ Broadway clinic in Seattle and then at home for several months, she finally received a transplant that transformed her life, as well as that of her husband, Dave, and their two adopted children.

Now, after more than 53 years, Margie is back on dialysis. She has established a routine where she starts her day at 4:30 a.m., drives to the clinic by 6 a.m., and begins dialysis at 6:30 a.m. three days a week at Northwest Kidney Centers’ Port Angeles clinic.

While the process can be tiring, Margie understands its importance and appreciates how extraordinary her kidney care journey has been. Typically, a transplanted kidney from a living donor lasts around 15-20 years, but Margie managed to get 50-plus years of functioning kidney health from hers.

Early dialysis

Her first encounter with dialysis came when she was only 22 years old, in 1969. She learned her kidneys were failing, and her doctor recommended she dialyze at Northwest Kidney Centers’ Broadway clinic.

“When I first heard the news about using an artificial kidney to keep me alive, I was scared as hell,” said Margie. “But I was either going to die or go on dialysis.”

For three days a week, Margie drove her flower power Volkswagen from her parents’ home in Bellevue to the Broadway clinic. Back in 1969, dialysis was a draining eight-hour process that left Margie exhausted and often ill. Sometimes she would have to pull over and stop on her drive home because of the aftereffects of dialyzing. Today, although the process is shorter and more refined, it still can leave patients with exhaustion and other effects.

Margie dialyzed in the center for about a year before making the switch to home dialysis. Home dialysis is not only gentler on the body, but it allows them more independence and flexibility. But it wasn’t easy –Margie and her father had to receive extensive training on the instruments, the machine and the process, as well as add a sink and plumbing to create a special ‘dialysis room’ at home.

Margie dialyzed at home for six months and during that time her father helped with the cleaning and maintenance of the machine. She also became

close to her sister Cheryl’s then-boyfriend, Dave Woodcock. Dave was a dental student at the University of Washington. When he was over, he would often assist her father. Eventually that friendship blossomed into a relationship, with their first date on Valentine’s Day 1971.

Margie’s nephrologist recommended her as a suitable candidate for a transplant. Although her brother and father did not match, Cheryl did. Her sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, helped raise $40,000 for the surgery. She underwent a kidney transplant on March 23, 1971. It wasn’t the only good news: three days later, while she was still recovering in the hospital, Dave proposed.

Marjorie had a new lease on life.

“I was alive, healthy, and in love. It was the perfect way to start a new life.” said Margie.

She and Dave married on August 7, 1971, with her dialysis techs and nurse from the Broadway clinic in attendance. At the time Dave was on a dental internship at Scott Air Force Base. On August 8th, they flew back to the base for their honeymoon. They both enjoyed the Air Force and would have stayed in longer had they known how successful the transplant was going to be.

When they moved back to Washington in 1974, Dave started his own dental practice in Renton. Margie, previously a dental assistant, worked as the front desk receptionist for a time. They lived in Bellevue and eventually Issaquah for over 33 years before moving to Port Angeles in 2006 where still live today.

Margie and Dave share a love of flying. Dave has flown and built planes for most of his life, and Margie took up the hobby too. After her transplant, she earned her Class 3 medical certification, allowing her to fly as a student or recreational pilot. She still flies with Dave to this day.

Besides flying, Margie and Dave spent their time being as active as can be. They enjoyed outdoor activities such as backpacking with their two llamas, fishing, hiking and traveling.

“You can still live a fulfilling life,” Margie says. “I am proof of that.”

Back to dialysis

In the past few years, Margie started slowing down, and it became hard for her to do even simple tasks. The couple again looked to Northwest Kidney Centers for help. Margie’s nephrologists, Dr. Rex Ochi and then Dr. Lisa Nakamoto, referred her to Northwest Kidney Centers’ Port Angeles clinic. The clinic, which opened in its current location in 2022, is the only dialysis option in Clallam County. Without it,

Margie would have had to drive hours to dialyze.

“Evidence shows when you take care of yourself by following the recommendations, and have a loved one by your side, you feel like you can do it all,” Port Angeles Nurse Manager Anastasiya Gmazel said. “Marjorie is so loved and the PAKC team is fortunate to provide high-quality care for her.”

Starting dialysis for the first time in 53 years wasn’t easy for Margie. She considered home dialysis, but didn’t want it to be a burden for Dave.

“At first, I was worried since it has been so long. I didn’t know how the new machines worked, or the people at the clinic,” Margie said. “But it’s been wonderful. The facility and all the staff have been very nice.”

Margie and Dave credit the love they have for one another, and the care she has received at Northwest Kidney Centers, for her lasting health. Though she’s back on dialysis and doesn’t plan to seek another kidney transplant, she still takes to the sky with Dave on occasion and is grateful for the extra time she has been able to have.

“Transplants can change lives,” Margie said. “It changed my life and allowed me to live the life I did with my husband.”