My Story

On September 17th of 2004, I received two organ transplants. This procedure saved my life after a long illness and it changed me forever. I became the recipient of a liver and a kidney from a single donor in an operation performed at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I had been very sick and was close to death when the transplants came. It was truly a life saving event.

After my transplants I decided to make good on a pledge I had made to myself when I was sick. I told myself that I would pursue all the tings in life that I had put aside. I’d get back to learning how to play guitar and being involved in photography and music. I knew that I would also value every single day and my time with my family more than I ever had. I also wanted to help others, and to make people understand how a transplant can save a life and how important it is to become an organ donor. With the help of my family and friends I’m making good on those promises. My good friend Joe Zook hooked me up with Ernie White shortly after my transplants. I was only a couple of months out and barely able to hold my Les Paul (I later picked up a much lighter Stratocaster), but with Ernie as my mentor and guide I started on my journey. Along the way I met some great people. Lisa Bouchelle was one of those people and with Ernie teaching me and Joe providing encouragement I got up and played with her at a gig one night. On the anniversary of my transplant we had a party in the backyard to celebrate. It was a jam. A year later, we decided to change the backyard jam into a much larger event open to the public and with the help of some great people that also became a reality. Last Oct. 1st, we held a successful Jam for Life at the West Trenton Ballroom. It was an event designed to raise donor awareness and also raise some money for The Gift of Life Donor Program, the organ procurement organization that serves Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. They were the people who arranged my transplants. Probably the most satisfying result of that day for me was hearing from donor families. They told me that seeing the transplant recipients enjoying the day, some playing music and all of their loved ones and families supporting the event, it made their loss easier to understand and accept. Nothing will ever erase the loss they feel. But I certainly hope that I can somehow make them aware of how grateful recipients like me are for their Gift of Life.

Every single day I say a prayer for my donor and his family. Shortly before the first anniversary of my transplants I wrote a song called “Each Day”, it’s a song that honors my donor and his family as well as my wife, Jean; my doctors told me that Jean’s care kept me alive long enough for them to do their thing. I know that is true. She worked tirelessly to take care of me.

I consider myself one of the luckiest people on earth. I only wish that others could experience this kind of joy. I've been given a second chance at life and I feel that it is my obligation to do whatever I can to share it with others and to help promote organ and tissue donation and transplant awareness.

It is my goal to make the Jam for Life a permanent thing. This year we will support the Penn Transplant House Project along with the Gift of Life Donor Program.

“PapaCarl”, Carl L. Anderson