On the eve of the release of his new album, singer-songwriter Scott MacIntyre has announced a major announcement regarding his personal health. A seven-year kidney transplant recipient, MacIntyre is now facing end-stage kidney disease for the second time in his life. As of last week, he has officially been accepted into the Vanderbilt Hospital transplant program and has been placed on the national waiting list for a deceased donor kidney.
The average wait time for a deceased donor kidney is three-five years. Though the doctors cannot be sure about MacIntyre's exact prognosis, they estimate he will need the transplant within the next six months, which would involve receiving a kidney from a living donor.
"I'm so grateful to my first kidney donor for these past seven years of my life." says MacIntyre. "Without that life-saving gift, I would have never been on
American Idol, married my wife, or been able to share my story with so many people around the world. Unfortunately, transplanted kidneys can't last forever, and now I'm facing the same life-threatening illness once again."
MacIntyre has made his health situation public to create more awareness of the importance of organ donation and to bring hope to those facing organ failure and future transplants.
"My wife and I are facing the same unknowns right now that tens of thousands of others and their families face every day," MacIntyre adds. "I hope that by being open and vulnerable about what I'm going through, I can draw attention to the overwhelming need for donated organs and encourage more people to become organ donors."
In the meantime, the
American Idol finalist will be actively promoting his new album,
Lighthouse, that releases Sept. 23. The project features eleven songs with lyrics that showcase the faith, hope, and grace MacIntyre has found in the midst of adversity. The first radio single, "Fifty Second Chances," embodies the core of MacIntyre's story: "
I need fifty second chances / And a hundred near misses / A thousand more I'm sorry's / And a million questions why / Though I don't yet have a martyr's faith / I'm willing to try / Forgive me for all my circumstances / Thank you for fifty second chances."
Also featured on
Lighthouse are two guest vocal performances by fellow
Idol alumni Danny Gokey and Skylar Laine. The album closes with MacIntyre's song, "I Am Hope," which has become a well-known anthem for organ donation that will be featured in upcoming events for the National Kidney Foundation Walks in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, and Miami.
MacIntyre will continue with an active touring schedule in the U.S. and Canada while his minimal kidney function allows. For further updates on Scott MacIntyre please visit online
www.scottmacintyre.com, on
Facebook, and at
Twitter.
