"To Save A Life" Theme Song Released
(Listen to the song here)

In the late summer of 2001, I received the most challenging songwriting assignment of my career-- from my step-mother, Emine Simon, an RN on the Raquela Nurses Council of Hadassah: please write a theme song for Hadassah's new "Pikuach Nefesh" campaign, designed to encourage people to consider organ and tissue donation. The San Antonio, Texas project was created in co-ordination with the organ and tissue procurement agencies, the City of San Antonio, community religious leaders of all faiths, and other organizations to dispel religious and cultural myths, raise public awareness and register organ and tissue donors.

I went out on the road, all the while racking my brain trying to find a way to encourage people, in a song, to promise such a gift and talk to their families about it. Mom was waiting. I didn't think my vaudeville version, entitled, "Sidney, Give A Kidney" was exactly what they had in mind. Inspired by the stories of transplant recipients, lots of reading on the subject and the events of Sept. 11, I was finally able to write a ballad called "To Save A Life." There is a line in it that goes: "Your gift goes on/ and the future is healthy and strong." In the chaos of the weeks following the WTC tragedy, I really needed to believe in something that was inspiring and hopeful and offered that possibility. The title idea is from the Talmud ("To save a life is like saving the whole world.") The 'bridge' of the song is based on the Torah, ("Don't stand by/ as your neighbors die") The song celebrates the value of being able to help another person, even after you're gone, as well as the need to discuss the issue with your family.

I recorded it with my buddy George Wurzbach, a great producer/arranger/ pianist and fellow songwriter, both of us spending hours and hours in his NYC studio working on it. We wanted to get the arrangement just right. I'm happy to say it has already been heard on many TV and radio stations around the U.S., and in Latin America through the Spanish language TV network Univision. Spanish and Hebrew versions of the song are in the works. As I write this, I have been invited by Cabinet Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to sing it in DC to kick off a national public education campaign.

"To Save A Life" will be featured as a soundtrack for documentary films and used in public service announcements and fundraising campaigns. As a CD single, it is available from my record company Nervy Girl Records through 'not-for-profit organizations', by donation only, with all proceeds after expenses donated to the many medical institutions and charitable organizations worldwide doing the important work of saving lives. All charities interested in being part of this project should contact us at info@laurawetzler.com. Please be ready to provide proof of your tax-exempt status.

To receive a copy of the CD single, "To Save A Life," send your tax-deductible donation
(Minimum $15-$25 for each CD, plus $1 each, for shipping) to the organization(s) listed below. Allow 4 weeks for delivery. Please consider making a larger donation, if you can. Make sure you include your return address and ask to receive your CD single, "To Save A Life." Thank you!

San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah, "To Save A Life" Campaign
c/o 13403 Queensland, San Antonio , Texas 78232

Here are the lyrics for "To Save A Life." Feel free to print copies of the words but please always include the author, copyright, publisher and contact information, as written. Please let us know how it's being used. Thanks!

To Save A Life