My Rockin' Heart Transplant Anniversary

Today, I celebrate the fourth anniversary of my heart transplant. It's hard to believe it has been four years. It's went by so fast it seems like it's only been four weeks or four months. After a long, debilitating 11-year battle with heart disease that almost took my life, I have been able to enjoy life again over the last four years. It's not something I take for granted.

Today is also another Music Monday. Today's artist is Skillet and the video is their hit "Hero" from their newest album, Awake (watch here). I first heard Skillet's music a couple of years ago. They are a Christian metal band who's success and popularity is steadily growing. "Hero" honors police officers, firefighters, the military, and others. However, today I am dedicating this song to a special hero and the thousands of others like him. On February 21, 2007, my life was saved because a hero named Kent (pictured below right) chose to be an organ donor when he passed away. When I needed "a hero to save me now," he was the one. I am alive today because of him. I will be forever grateful. The energy of the pyrotechnics and explosions within the "Hero" video show perfectly how excited and grateful I am to still be around.

However, there are over 110,000 Americans on the transplant waiting list today who need heroes, too. Unfortunately, about 19 of them will die today because there's no hero for them. I very easily could have been one of them but for the grace of God and Kent's gift. Ironically, he was waiting on a liver when he passed away saving me and three others. Now that's a hero. You can be a hero, too, by visiting the Donate Life America website by clicking here and then clicking on your state to find out how to sign up to be an organ and tissue donor where you live. Be a hero. Sign up today. 110,000 of your fellow Americans are counting on you.