Opera Singer Who Had 2 Double-Lung Transplants Performs Duet With Donor’s Daughter

Usually, when Esperanza Tufani sings, her rich alto voice rings throughout a church sanctuary, as a member of her choir.

Not Tuesday, however.

The 24-year-old Chipotle general manager from Canton shared the stage Tuesday afternoon with professional opera singer Charity Tillemann-Dick, a best-selling classical recording artist. Their two-song mini-recital earned a rousing ovation from a rapt audience of attendees of Cleveland Clinic’s 15th annual Medical Innovation Summit, held in downtown Cleveland’s Huntington Convention Center.

RELATED: After 2 Double Lung Transplants, Curtain Calls Continue For Opera Singer

“I was very nervous before we sang. I’m used to singing in a worship setting,” admits Esperanza. “But as we sang, I relaxed. It’s awesome to sing with Charity, and share the story of what can come from organ donation.”

While their on-stage experiences and singing styles are vastly different, the friends share a unique connection – as the lungs that power Charity’s coloratura soprano once breathed life into Esperanza’s mother, Flora Brown.

The recipient of two double-lung transplants, the most recent pair received in 2012 after her body rejected a previous transplant, Charity has overcome a life-threatening lung disease – and, later, cancer – to live her dream as a world-renowned opera star.

“Her mother’s death brought me life. It’s just incredible that we’ve gotten to know each other, and I can’t even describe what it feels like to sing with her,” says Charity.

The two met about a year after Charity’s second double-lung transplant, which was performed at Cleveland Clinic by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Kenneth McCurry. Charity had sent an anonymous letter to Ms. Brown’s family, per the protocol of the United Network for Organ Sharing.

When Esperanza shared it with some friends, she discovered – to her amazement – that one of them knew the letter was from Charity because she was acquainted with her. Since then, Charity and Esperanza have met on several occasions – and were ecstatic when they discovered a mutual love of singing.

“When I first heard Esperanza sing, I was mesmerized by her voice,” recalls Charity. “It’s so beautiful. I knew we had to sing together!”

For the Summit, they sang two compositions – “Simple Grace,” a track on Charity’s chart-topping church music-inspired classical album, “American Grace;” plus, a new folk song Charity wrote called “American Rainbow,” with Esperanza singing lead. The latter song’s theme is about the need to form connections, regardless of age, race, gender or political differences.

“Too often, these days, we forget how interconnected we are,” notes Charity. “But it’s something you never forget when you’ve received an organ transplant.”

Charity Tillemann-Dick and Esperanza Tufani support Donate Life America, a non-profit organization focused on increasing the number of donated organs, eyes and tissue to save and heal lives through transplantation. Visit Donate Life #My Encore Challenge to learn more about how to become a donor.

Related media coverage:
Opera Singer Performs With Lung Transplant Donor’s Daughter (New York Times)
Opera singer Charity Tillemann-Dick performs with her lung transplant donor’s daughter (NY Daily News)
Opera singer performs with lung transplant donor’s daughter (The Washington Times)
Opera singer performs alongside donor’s daughter after double lung transplant in Cleveland (WOIO)
Opera singer performs with lung transplant donor’s daughter (FOX 8)