Five-year anniversaries are often marked as milestones. But for Marcus McGrew, this year’s celebration carries a deeper meaning: five years since a life-saving heart and kidney transplant that gave him a second chance at life.
That milestone, he says, is grounded in gratitude and a renewed focus on the future.
A foundation built on family and resilience
McGrew’s journey begins in the South, where he was born in Mississippi and raised in Alabama in a close-knit, deeply rooted family.
“I had 36 first cousins living nearby. Mom is the second oldest of seven. My humble beginnings in Alabama prepared me to handle whatever comes my way. My parents instilled a very strong work ethic, and I truly believe that all things are possible. My family has always been a source of inspiration and support, over the years and even now.”
That upbringing would later shape how he faced one of the most difficult chapters of his life.
After earning a finance degree from the University of South Alabama, McGrew built a career that took him from the South to Detroit, where he worked with the Wayne County Community College District, earned his MBA from Michigan State University and later joined the Kresge Foundation. There, he helped launch an initiative focused on improving life outcomes for young men of color.
A diagnosis that would change everything
Five years after arriving in Detroit, a routine medical visit revealed something unexpected: polycystic kidney disease.
Initially, the condition was monitored. But over time, the severity became impossible to ignore.
A pivotal moment came when McGrew crossed paths with Nancy Schlichting, former president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, who encouraged him to seek further evaluation.
That decision proved critical.
The emergency department physician initially cared for McGrew said he was shocked at what he found: “I’ve never seen kidneys this large.”
Doctors soon discovered the extent of his condition, including severely enlarged kidneys, a hallmark of advanced polycystic kidney disease. At their worst, McGrew’s kidneys weighed 17 pounds.
When multiple conditions collide
Years later, what began as kidney disease escalated into a far more complex medical crisis.
After a trip to Minneapolis for a job interview, McGrew experienced alarming symptoms upon returning to Detroit. What followed was a rapid series of diagnoses: worsening kidney failure and congestive heart failure.
He began dialysis four times a week. His condition deteriorated to the point that he required hospitalization while awaiting a transplant.
Then, during one of the most challenging periods in modern health care -- the height of the COVID-19 pandemic -- a life-saving opportunity arrived.
Within six weeks of hospitalization, McGrew received both a heart transplant, performed by Dr. Daizo Tanaka, and a kidney transplant, performed by Dr. Shunji Nagai.
Care, connection and recovery
Despite strict visitor limitations during the pandemic, McGrew found connection and support through his care team at Henry Ford Hospital.
“My transplant cardiologist was Dr. Celeste Williams, and my coordinator was Nancy Amezcua. They shared all the resources, everything I needed. Early on I felt like getting well was my full-time job. With all the appointments, lab work, everything -- she was a phenomenal transplant coordinator for me.”
He also recalled the broader team who helped guide him through recovery.
“Meanwhile, Drs. Selektor, Hannawi, Tita, Tanaka, Cowger … And my nurses, like Emma, Brandon, Mikey, Jade, Bridgett and the two Omars among, a number of others -- I got to know them really well.”
That care extended beyond clinical expertise -- something McGrew said made all the difference.
Faith and community during the hardest moments
Throughout his journey, McGrew leaned heavily on faith and community.
“The congregation at Greater Grace Temple and people across the world were aware of my journey, prayed fervently for my recovery, and it worked out exceptionally well.”
He credits Pastor Charles H. Ellis and his church family at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit for helping sustain him during uncertain days.
A full-circle moment
After months of recovery and cardiac rehabilitation, McGrew was finally able to return to something deeply personal: visiting his mother in Alabama.
The trip became more than a visit -- it was a celebration.
“The celebration included cousins, extended family and high school friends … truly a full-circle moment for a southern son with another chance at life.”
Gratitude that endures
Five years later, McGrew continues to reflect on the people who made his recovery possible.
“To my care team: Where would I be without you? I’m grateful for your humanity. You saw me as a person and a patient. I’m grateful for your expertise, and for how you expressed your love for me. I felt totally seen, heard and valued throughout my stay and many visits. I want to pay that forward in some meaningful way. I am glad you all took the oath to practice medicine, and I’m alive because you did.”
A story of survival and purpose
Looking back, McGrew doesn’t just see a medical journey, he sees something bigger.
“I am one of the miracles that happened at Henry Ford Hospital.”
Five years after his transplant, that miracle continues -- not just in survival, but in the life he’s able to live, the people he’s able to love and the future he now gets to shape.
Learn more about heart and multi-organ transplants at Henry Ford Health.