Mariana McConnie, 20, was suddenly called home to Heaven on January 19, 2019. She was surrounded by her family and loved ones in her final moments. Mariana was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). When Mariana was 2 years old, her family moved from their home in Puerto Rico to Silver Spring, Maryland in search of the healthcare that Mariana’s diagnosis demanded. Mariana’s condition was managed as best as possible until her lungs could no longer function properly on their own.
Due to complications from CF, in 2014, Mariana received her first double lung transplant at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg. Her new lungs were donated by the family of Caleb Hogue, who was a boy close in age to her. Mariana had the opportunity to meet Caleb’s family and friends at their home in Ohio. A year later, Mariana accompanied one of Caleb’s friends to what would have been his senior prom. It was her way of showing her donor‘s friends and family how he survived through her, and thanking her donor for saving her life.
Mariana attended Jackson Road Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD and Saint Bernadette School in Silver Spring. She graduated from James Huber Blake High School in Silver Spring, in 2016. Mariana attended Towson University for a year and a half, where she earned the nickname of Mighty Mare. She was a parishioner of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Silver Spring, MD.
Mariana dedicated a large part of her life to raising awareness for CF and organ donation. Following her first transplant, she completed interviews with news stations such as UNIVISION, Ohio’s WKRC and WLWT, Washington D.C.’s WUSA9 and newspapers such as The Pittsburgh Tribune. The interview with UNIVISION “Aqui y Ahora” had a viewership of 11 million people. The interviews and her large social media presence enabled Mariana to tell her story and shed a light on the complicated disease that is Cystic Fibrosis. Additionally, she worked closely with organ donation organizations, such as Donate Life America and the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. Mariana also joined the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at Towson University, whose major philanthropy is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She was truly committed to helping better the lives of people who live with CF and people in need of life-saving organ transplants.
Her first lung transplant was just one stop in the difficult journey ahead. Mariana’s health deteriorated a second time, and in March of 2018, it was time for Mariana to receive a second double lung transplant surgery. Her second surgery was completed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Recovery after her second transplant surgery was an uphill battle, but Mariana handled the process like a warrior. Although her life was ultimately overcome by the battle, she continued fighting until she no longer had to fight anymore.
Mariana was a one-in-a-million kind of girl. She had many hobbies but her favorite one was making friends. Her lifelong passion was her dogs, which she trained as service dogs. She will be remembered by her great sense of humor, her kind spirit, her strength and perseverance, and above all her love for her dogs, Lola, Nikkie, Leyla, and SuperCooper.
Mariana is survived by her parents Julian O. McConnie and Idalia C. Rodriguez of Silver Spring, MD, and her twin brother Julian O. McConnie. She also leaves behind her maternal grandparents, Jose A. Rodriguez (Chachi) and Idalia J. Lopez, of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is also survived by her boyfriend, William Henry Harrison England of Silver Spring, MD, her aunts, Dailia C. Rodriguez, of Silver Spring MD, Gina Barnhart, of Cincinnati, Ohio, her uncle Jose R. Rodriguez of Portland, OR, and an endless list of cousins, loved ones and friends who were incredibly blessed to have known her.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Washington Regional Transplant Community (DONATE LIFE) or the Wilderness Pointer Club of Virginia Rescue Fund.
The Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority and the Panhellenic Association at Towson University will be hosting a vigil in Mariana’s honor. Please reach out to the family or her sorority sisters for location and time.
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