Celeste Needs Your Help
Dedicated athlete, ballerina, wife and mother Celeste Mackenzie is in need of a Kidney transplant. Her family is working hard to find a donor that can change our lives and future
Would you or someone you know consider becoming a donor?
A Journey of Grace and Grit
Celeste’s journey has been one of resilience, strength, and unexpected hardship. From her early years as a professional ballerina to becoming an avid marathon runner, she’s always exemplified discipline and a commitment to health. But in February 2025, her life changed dramatically with a devastating diagnosis of end-stage renal failure.
Even in her peak physical years, Celeste experienced unexplained symptoms. As a ballerina and later a marathoner, she had recurring bouts of Rheumatoid Arthritis, experiencing fluid buildup (effusion) in her knees which required frequent draining, sometimes up to 50cc at a time. Despite repeated testing, doctors couldn’t pinpoint a cause. Unbeknownst to her, Celeste was living with not one, but two autoimmune diseases that had been silently attacking her body for years.
The progression has accelerated dramatically in the past five years, starting with chronic gastrointestinal issues, then affecting skin, eyes, joints, and ultimately, her kidneys. Celeste maintained a lifestyle rooted in healthy eating and consistent fitness. Yet, she began noticing extreme fatigue and a burning sensation in her legs that slowed her marathon pace from under 4 hours to over 6, despite rigorous training. Swelling in her legs and feet (edema) reached a point where she could barely walk or wear shoes.
In 2024, after suffering from severe headaches and ongoing battles with pneumonia, a specialist finally ordered comprehensive bloodwork, which revealed the havoc that had been done to her body. This included Anemia, with her hemoglobin levels dropping as low as 5.5 g/dL; when the healthy range for women is 12–14, and clear signs of end-stage kidney failure.
Celeste was rushed to the ER by ambulance and admitted to Kettering Hospital, where she remained for 10 days. After extensive testing, including a kidney biopsy, doctors identified the culprit as a rare and aggressive autoimmune disease called ANCA Vasculitis. Tragically, she was also found to carry two of the most severe strains of Anti-GBM antibodies, making her condition even more complex.
Ironically, it was Celeste’s lifelong dedication to health that may have saved her from a stroke or heart attack. Her toughness and determination kept her moving, even through excruciating pain. Doctors have confirmed that her kidneys are permanently damaged, and she will need a transplant to survive. Until then, she must undergo dialysis to stay alive. This diagnosis is still a shock to all who know her. Celeste has never smoked, rarely drinks alcohol, and has always avoided even basic painkillers. She is the last person anyone would expect to face such a health crisis. A kidney transplant from a living donor offers the best chance for long-term success, lasting 20 years or more compared to 8 years or fewer for a deceased donor, which also carries more complications.
Celeste’s dream is to return to the sport she loves and to continue celebrating life with her family and friends. With your help, she hopes to cross future marathon finish lines with the same grit and grace that have defined her journey so far.
Resilience in Motion
Celeste began her journey as a professional ballet dancer, a path that demanded precision, endurance, and unwavering dedication. After retiring from ballet in 1992, she was advised by four medical specialists, including a rheumatologist and orthopedic surgeon, to avoid weight-bearing exercises due to recurring inflammation.
For a time, it seemed her days of pushing physical limits were over. Her inspiration to run began while watching her husband Greg complete his third Comrades Marathon. The Combrades is 56 miles of punishing, beautful hills in their home of South Africa, from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Though told not to run, Celeste was moved and motivated by the spirit of the race. She set her sights on one day completing it herself. Between 1992 and 1997, Celeste underwent years of physical therapy and aqua rehab to acheive the impossible. Despite this existing physical barrier, and having to raise two lovely children throughout, she pressed on. The discipline she had been practicing her whole life drove her to reach new heights. In 1998 and again in 1999, she captured the dream and completed the Comrades Marathon.
In 2001, the Mackenzie family relocated to the U.S., where both Celeste and Greg continued to pursue marathon running. Celeste has now completed around 40 full marathons, managing to balance motherhood, work, and training. Her dream is to return to running once she receives a kidney transplant. Celeste began teaching ballet and Pilates in 2002 and went on to run a successful Pilates studio. In 2016, she became a certified second-generation Master Pilates Instructor, traveling internationally to teach. But with her decline in health, she has been forced to stop teaching. Still, Celeste remains active, creating a restorative Pilates practice to help herself stay strong during dialysis and illness. Today, Celeste receives dialysis three times a week at a center 15 miles from her home. It’s a physically and emotionally taxing routine. But thanks to her husband Greg, children Brett and Sarah, and a tight-knit support system, she continues to stay hopeful.
