How would you respond to the question, what legacy do you hope to leave?

Marie Saleeby, recently retired from years of service as Senior Vice President and Administrator of McLeod Regional Medical Center, had this question posed to her by a McLeod Health executive several years ago.

Marie shares that the concept of legacy made her a little uncomfortable, as if it were somewhat prideful. Through the following years, it became clear that legacy was about service, and she felt obliged to train her team to “take the baton” upon her retirement. Marie also contributed to the McLeod Health Foundation to help provide staff with additional resources to continue promoting excellent healthcare for the region.

“During my years at McLeod, we knew we could count on generous Foundation donors,” explains Marie. “Their gifts often supported our clinical staff in providing the best care for our region.”

Her most recent commitment to the Foundation was the establishment of a McLeod Hospice Tree Lighting Sponsor Endowment.

“The concept of an endowment interested me because when the economy goes through lean times, the endowment is still there to provide the critical services our patients need,” states Marie. “My family’s deep personal connection to the Hospice Tree Lighting also led to this decision.”

Each year, the annual McLeod Hospice Tree Lighting is an emotional time for Marie’s family to remember and honor her late husband, Randy Segars.

Randy, who served his country as a Marine in Vietnam, Marie Saleeby was the bedrock of their family. He was a patriarch who protected the family’s strong values. It was devastating for all of them when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

The family later learned that Randy’s cancer was a result of his exposure to Agent Orange while in Vietnam. The Marine Corps officially recognized the diagnosis, and oddly enough, Randy found it comforting.

“Our family surrounded Randy with pride in the knowledge that if our soldier had to receive this diagnosis, it was a result of his service to our country,” says Marie.

Randy made his wishes clear. He wanted to fight a good fight and live as long as he could be happy, and then have a dignified and peaceful passing. The approach to end-of-life decisions by McLeod allowed Randy’s physicians and staff to focus on providing the care he bravely sought.

In 2012, the week of the annual Tree Lighting, Randy passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. As Marie shares, this was the only Tree Lighting ceremony she has ever missed.

The following spring, as she was walking through the parking area where the ceremony takes place, she noticed a line of trees that were a part of the annual Tree Lighting. To her they looked like strong soldiers standing as sentinels for the medical center.

This unexpected experience inspired Marie to begin sponsoring a tree each year in Randy’s memory. Marie had long supported McLeod Hospice through gifts to the Tree Lighting, and now the ceremony took on incredible meaning for her family. Today, Randy’s children and grandchildren join Marie at “Granddaddy’s Tree” each year for a picture after the event.

As Administrator of McLeod Regional Medical Center, Marie welcomed families and staff for the annual “A Light for Someone You Love” Tree Lighting Ceremony. She opened the ceremony, sharing words of encouragement and hope for those who were there to honor and remember their loved ones.

“The day of the Tree Lighting always fills the staff with excitement and anticipation. It is a meaningful event for caregivers to see the families of their patients and to affirm the compassionate care to which they have dedicated their lives,” recalls Marie. “It is also a time of healing and celebration for both families and staff.”

Now, through Marie’s generous Tree Lighting Sponsor Endowment, “Granddaddy’s Tree” will stand as a strong soldier in dress uniform, with its awe-inspiring lights giving families hope and encouragement in perpetuity. It is quite a family legacy.

Like Marie, you can make a gift honoring a loved one that ensures indefinite support to improving the overall health and well-being of people living in South Carolina and eastern North Carolina. Contact Casey Rasmussen at (843) 777-2898 or casey.rasmussen@mcleodhealth.org to learn more about endowed gifts.