As Life-Threatening COVID-19 Cases Surge, Group Releases Song to Inspire People to Plan End-of-Life Care

Goal is to Encourage People to Discuss End-of-Life Care Plans with Loved Ones for Valentine’s Day
February 2, 2021
Kim Callinan

Compassion & Choices President & CEO Kim Callinan, who conceived and commissioned THIS IS YOUR SHOW.

Compassion & Choices today released a new song by widely-acclaimed musicians and singers, THIS IS YOUR SHOW, to educate people about the urgency as life-threatening COVID-19 cases surge, to discuss their end-of-life care plans with loved ones for Valentine’s Day.  Compassion & Choices offers free online end-of-life care planning the tools and resources at bit.ly/EndOfLifeCarePlanning 

THIS IS YOUR SHOW is performed by award-winning Broadway, film, and TV actress-singer Carmen Ruby Floyd, the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir, and highly-skilled musicians. Composer and Broadway performer Andrew Beall and lyricist, singer/song-writer Evan McCormack wrote the music and lyrics.

“With a record number of people diagnosed with life-threatening COVID-19, many hospitals at or near capacity, new more infectious strains of the virus, and huge challenges with vaccine distribution,” said Kim Callinan, president and CEO of Compassion & Choices, who conceived and commissioned THIS IS YOUR SHOW. “That’s why now is a good time to remove their burden of having to guess what your end-of-life care wishes are if you become unable to speak for yourself, by discussing your preferences with them, naming a healthcare proxy, and completing an advance care directive.”

The second verse of THIS IS YOUR SHOW encapsulates the song’s core message:

YOU HAVE THE OPTION

TO WRITE YOUR LAST CHAPTER

TO BREATHE A BIT BETTER

TO CAPTURE THE FACTORS

THAT MATTER MOST

TO YOU AND YOURS

(AND YOU AND YOURS TO)

FOCUS ON

THE THINGS THAT MATTER

ONCE YOU HAVE WRITTEN IT

ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND IT

THEY CAN UNDERSTAND IT

YOU’LL NEVER BE GLADDER

TO CUT THROUGH THE CHATTER

LET’S CUT THROUGH THE CHATTER

FOCUS ON

THE THINGS THAT MATTER

The song is posted on YouTube at bit.ly/ThisIsYourShow

“For me, the entire production team of THIS IS YOUR SHOW enjoyed collaborating with Compassion & Choices because it made us all aware of the importance of speaking about end-of-life choices for ourselves, as well as for our loved ones,” said Carmen Ruby Floyd. “Valentine’s Day may seem like an odd day to discuss this issue, but it truly is about love and how you or your family want to be cared for. Music is so powerful it can open many people’s hearts and minds to critical issues they never even considered.”

Far too many people like my dad, especially in underserved communities, never complete an advanced directive, resulting in unnecessary suffering, family disagreements, and loved ones having to make uninformed decisions about treatment options,” said Brandi Alexander, National Director of Community Engagement for Compassion & Choices. THIS IS YOUR SHOW as an inspirational tool to create new avenues for sharing positive, joyful messages about personal empowerment, gratitude, and the power of planning for an end-of-life experience aligned with YOUR values and priorities.”

Compassion & Choices
Media Contacts

Michael Cavaiola
National Director of Marketing & Communications
[email protected] 
Phone: (480) 622 4427

Patricia A. González-Portillo
Senior National Latino Media Director
[email protected]
(323) 819 0310

Compassion & Choices
8156 S Wadsworth Blvd #E-162
Littleton, CO 80128

Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750

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