Tanner is getting his transplant! 

Thanks to all of your support from the community and beyond, Tanner Denton is scheduled for his kidney transplant in mid-November. If you haven’t heard, Tanner is a 9 year-old with a rare kidney disease called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis or FSGS. Earlier this year, we held a songwriting contest to help raise funds for medical bills. It is called the Kid Needz Songwriting Contest. Songwriters from North Carolina and beyond have contributed music to be included on the final CD. Some lucky songwriters were produced and recorded for free as a result of winning the contest including Caleb Lail, Billy Hall, Sandy Carlton, John Glover, Jonathan Robinson, and Chris Beach. We also have song submissions from established songwriters like Al Dunkleman, Steve Hodnett, David Tribble, and Chris Ferree. The CD is on its way to completion and we hope to have it ready by January 2014!

Not only did we have great response from the community to this fundraiser, but Tanner himself wrote a song to be included on the CD. Check out his song, behind the scenes and be the first to hear. I asked him, “If you could write a song for another little boy or girl who is going through the same kind of situation you are, what would you say?” His response was a song called, “Life is Like a Ferris Wheel,” he continues, “...it just goes ‘round and ‘round.” A couple weeks ago, we recorded his vocal track at Jefferson Elementary School before he went to Charlotte for treatment. Listen to the emotion and sincerity in his voice as he sings his original song. No auto-tune, no tricks, this boy is going to be a star one day and kidney disease will not get in his way!