Rebeka Rutledge
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN — Just in time for Donate Life Month in April, a new video promoting organ donation has been produced by an Oklahoma country music artist along with a Jacksonville, Fla., heart transplant recipient.
Recording artist Dawn Anita Plumlee, of Velma and business man Bob Aronson, who was recipient of a heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in 2007 have combined their skills to produce “The Gift of Life” song and video. The song was written, produced and performed by Plumlee at her own expense and donated to Aronson’s Facebook Group: Organ Transplant Initiative (OTI). Drawing from her deceased mom’s favorite line, “I’m so glad I’m alive,” Dawn Anita wrote a song about the joy of living experienced by patients who have had transplants.
The video will be released to the public Monday. Downloads are free and no permission to replay is required.
“The Gift of Life is a happy song because it’s about helping other people live with your organs after you don’t need them anymore,” said Plumlee.
“People have good intentions but they just don’t get around to registering as organ donors and the result is that 20 people die every day because there aren’t enough organs. It’s hard to believe that only 40 percent of us are organ donors when almost everyone agrees it’s a good idea.”
Plumlee said, “Don’t take your organs to heaven; heaven knows we need them here.”
There are about 118,000 people on the national transplant list but only 28,000 transplants are performed each year. Thousands die waiting. A few facts about organ donation are: There is no age limit, anyone of any age can register (under 18 with parental consent); organ donation is approved by almost all major religions; being an organ donor costs nothing because the recipient’s insurance pays all costs; and there are 98,000 people waiting for kidneys. Living donation is possible because we all have two kidneys and a person can live with just one.
“I’m alive and was able to produce this video to help others because a total stranger gave me his heart,” said Aronson.
“Registering is easy, you can check ‘Yes,’ for organ donor when you get or renew your driver’s license or just sign on to www.donatelife.net and register.
It only takes about a minute. Above all though, tell your family so there’s no confusion when the time comes.”
Aronson and Plumlee want “The Gift of Life” to spread on social media sites.
“We would like the song to be like a virus and spread everywhere,” said Aronson. “On Monday all you have to do is go to YouTube, type in “Dawn Anita’s Gift of Life” and the video is yours.”
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