With the passing of Nancy Spaeth in January, at age 74, the kidney world lost a unique and tenacious figure and Northwest Kidney Centers lost a champion and special friend.

Nancy developed kidney problems as a child and grew up along with the treatment of kidney disease - and along with Northwest Kidney Centers.

Nancy was the oldest living kidney patient in the world and living history herself. She started dialysis at 18 and then lived 56 years on dialysis or with a transplant.

Nancy was involved with Northwest Kidney Centers in one way or another since the very early days of dialysis. She funded the patient/family living room on the 4th floor of the 15th and Cherry clinic in Seattle, which is named in her honor. Until the pandemic limited such access, she enjoyed leading tours of the dialysis museum at 700 Broadway and served on the Northwest Kidney Centers Foundation Board and Board Quality Committee for many years.

Her experience with kidney disease was remarkable and well-documented. A staunch and tireless advocate for people with kidney disease, Nancy's passing will be felt by Kidney patients everywhere.