Nancy Weirich
Age 63 • Hagerstown, Md. • Featured on March 15, 2010
Mentoring Comes Naturally to Retired Teacher
Nancy Weirich, a 63-year-old dialysis patient from Hagerstown, Md., has always loved to travel. With her grandchildren located just a few hours away, and annual family vacations to Tennessee and Alabama, Nancy wasn’t about to let dialysis stop her from traveling. She started in-center hemodialysis nearly ten years ago after being diagnosed with scleroderma, which causes high blood pressure. She receives treatment at Fresenius Medical Care Robinwood.
Life on dialysis hasn’t stopped Nancy’s love of exploring new places and she encourages other patients to travel too — be it on the ocean or in the mountains, near or far. One of her favorite parts about traveling as an in-center hemodialysis patient is the opportunity to meet new and interesting patients and Fresenius Medical Care staff members.
Whether she's in her hometown clinic or visiting another facility, Nancy is also a dedicated and loyal patient advocate. As a retired teacher, mentoring comes naturally to her, and she finds comfort in easing dialysis patients’ worries and concerns. She also encourages them to be more forthcoming with questions about their treatments.
When Nancy isn’t in the clinic or traveling, she is extremely active within her local church, Paramount Baptist, where she helps deliver cold weather supplies to shelters and homes. She also enjoys reading and singing in the church choir. Nancy said her strong faith in God provides her with strength and support, and allows her to see each new day as an adventure.
