By Richard F. Denno
Tina Turner, known as the ‘Queen of Rock & Roll’, is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time; selling over 200 million records worldwide to date. Her renditions of ‘Proud Mary’, ‘What Ever You Want’, ‘Private Dancer’ and ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It,’ are songs we have all sang along to for years.
What do Tina Turner, George Lopez, Natalie Cole, Apple’s Steve Jobs, Larry Hagman, Shelly Fabares, and wrestling’s Superstar Billy Graham all have in common? Others from the entertainment field include Mandy Patinkin, Tracy Morgan, Gary Coleman, Billy Preston, Jim ‘Gomer Pyle’ Nabors and Evel Knievel.
Famous sports figures include Oscar Robinson, football stars Everson Walls and Sean Elliot, basketball great Oscar Robertson, Alonzo Mourning, and of course Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle. All were organ donors or recipients. Many other famous people fall into this category. My personal favorite is award winning playwright Neil Simon. Bill Evans, Neil Simon’s agent and friend, was his kidney donor. I corresponded with Simon shortly after his transplant and received letters back, which I still have. He allowed me to write a story for the National Kidney Foundation’s national publication. Dick Cheney, vice President under George W. Bush, Robert Casey, former Governor of Pennsylvania and Apple’s Steve Jobs also received transplants.
In some cases, recipients react to their donations with humor. Jim Nabors, shortly after his kidney transplant, joked with his audience, “Yep, I received a kidney transplant. It was from a generous Mexican gentleman. Now I can’t go by a taco stand without my mouth watering!” At a press conference after the game, Hall of Fame football coach Norm Van Brocklin, commenting on his brain surgery, said to the press corps, “It’s true, I had a brain transplant. They gave me the brain of a sports writer, because I wanted one that hadn’t been used much!” And no, there isn’t such a procedure as a brain transplant – YET.
This month’s column is designed to ‘put a face’ on organ donation. Many of our favorite celebrities, like each one of us, can find themselves in need of a lifesaving transplant. When it comes to transplants, ‘Fame or Fortune’ doesn’t play a part in the decision of who receives the transplant. It’s all based on need.
Many people make buying decisions based on what their favorite celebrities advertise. What child hasn’t eaten Wheaties because their favorite sports figure’s picture is on the box. Recently, I saw an actor advertising a very expensive luxury car. Can’t you picture yourself behind the wheel of such a car?
On April 7, 2017, Tina Turner, received a kidney transplant. The donor was her husband, Erwin Bach. “It gave me a second chance at Love,” said Turner. After all, That IS what love’s got to do with it! To register as a donor, go online to www.registerme,org. To learn about living organ donation, go to www.neds.org .