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Keep up-to-date on the latest News regarding organ and tissue donation and transplantation in our region. Have you seen a donation or transplantation-related article in your local paper that isn't listed on our site? Please let us know by email at info@ctdn.org.

Take a look at our Event Calendar for community events in which The Transplant Network is scheduled to participate. Volunteers should contact the community outreach coordinator noted for more information. To learn more about recent community events in which we have participated, visit our Past Events archive.

Premier Showing of D tour -Donation Documentary

The California Transplant Donor Network is proud to co-present D tour directed by Jim Granato, at the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival- April 23 to May 7, 2009. Come join us at the San Francisco showing!

"D tour", the much-anticipated documentary about Bay Area musician Pat Spurgeon, follows Spurgeon's struggle with kidney failure and his search for a kidney donor while on tour with his band Rogue Wave.

For more information about Rogue Wave and the documentary, click here

Pat Spurgeon is the drummer, the foundation and, with his cartoonish afro, the most recognizable member of the Oakland-based indie rock band Rogue Wave. A musician to the core, he's charismatic, funny, big-hearted and has only one kidney, which is failing. Pat's search for a new organ (he's on a sixyear waiting list) and his inspiring ability to balance health and work form the center of Jim Granato's remarkable documentary.

Pat's been battling kidney issues his whole life. As the film begins, he has a tube inserted in his stomach for twice-daily dialysis, a process that simulates kidney function. Dialysis now can be done just about anywhere, provided there's a sterile environment - not exactly a guarantee for a touring musician. Nonetheless, Pat wants to gig-it's all he's ever wanted-and the band hits the road on what they dub their D(ialysis) Tour. Interweaving interviews with Pat's band and family members as well as footage from a benefit concert with Rogue Wave, Nada Surf, John Vanderslice and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, the film is a unique travelogue, raising issues of friendship, self-preservation, identity, health care, indie rock and, most notably, organ donation. Throughout, Pat's coping ability is a thing to behold. Granato subtitles his documentary, "a 'rock 'n' roll film about life, death and bodily functions," which, while true, doesn't quite capture the urgency, desperation and raw emotion running throughout.
-Benjamin Friedland

The film will be shown 3 different times:
Friday, May 1st at 9 p.m.
Monday, May 4th at 3:15 p.m.
Thursday, May 7th at 5:15 p.m.

For information about D tour and obtaining tickets ($12.50 each) for this documentary, please click here

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