Album Notes

Dan's & Kim's magnetic energy and talent will captivate you, but it's their amazing story behind this dynamic force that will move you. Kim Montalvo, the female singer, had been ill with kidney failure and lived on dialysis for four years. During that time, she also suffered thyroid cancer twice. In the meantime, a family acquaintance, Dan Caruso, heard of Kim's need for a life-saving transplant and without hesitation offered his kidney to her. Kim turned down his offer for three years. Worried that the surgery was too big of a risk for a self-employed family man to take, she patiently waited for a cadaver kidney. Finally, on Dan's birthday, he told her, "I'm not getting any younger. It's now or never." She accepted, after having just been turned away for a cadaver kidney that went to a better-matched patient. While Dan was undergoing numerous tests to qualify for the donation, Kim suffered from a potentially fatal infection called peritonitis. It nearly claimed her life. As a result of the infection, Kim's weight dropped drastically to 87 pounds. Just in the nick of time, on November 14, 2000, Kim and Dan underwent a successful, life-saving kidney transplant. We've also learned that Kim is a born-again Christian and it was her faith and prayers that got her through the most difficult time in her life. Dan says that the experience brought him closer to God.
Since Kim was a little girl, she always wanted to be a professional singer, and Dan had been a professional drummer and singer for many years. In 2002, Kim and Dan created The Special K Band, "K" is for kidney. They've recently released their original CD called "The Gift of Life." The songs are messages of love, hope and encouragement no matter the circumstances. The fourth track on the CD, "Gift of Life," is the theme song for the album. I've enclosed the CD for you to enjoy. Kim and Dan have performed their song throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. for The Gift of Life Donor Program and the National Kidney Foundation. They've recently been invited to perform "Gift of Life" in Indiana for the Organ Transplant Procurement Organization in April. There's also a possibility of them performing their song in Japan next year.
To hear their full story, go to www.organtransplants.org and click on the picture under the heading, "Faces of Donation." It will lead you to another page where you'll find a picture of Dan and Kim. Click on their picture and the photo-documentary will load up. It's a wonderful testament of one person laying down his life for another and giving a part of himself unconditionally. Enjoy the CD!