David Plant (L) with his stepson, Frank Lilley (R)

StoryCorps: David Plant and Frank Lilley

From: StoryCorps
Series: StoryCorps
Length: 02:34

Frank Lilley interviews his stepfather, David Plant, about approaching the end of his life. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: StoryCorps: David Plant and Frank Lilley
From: StoryCorps

Plant_small

This is a story about reaching the end of life.

It was recorded as part of StoryCorps’ Legacy Initiative–an effort to collect interviews with people who have life-threatening conditions.

In 2010, David Plant was diagnosed with skin cancer. Since then, the cancer has metastasized in other parts of his body.

David sat down for a StoryCorps Legacy interview with his stepson, Frank Lilley.

Also in the StoryCorps series

Caption: Sally Edwards (L) and Lue Hutchinson (R)

StoryCorps: Sally Edwards and Lue Hutchinson (02:13)
From: StoryCorps

Sally Edwards (L) and Lue Hutchinson (R) remember becoming friends after they both lost sons in the Gulf War.

StoryCorps: Herman and Sidney Blake (02:20)
From: StoryCorps

Herman Blake and his brother Sidney remember their childhood during the 1940s

StoryCorps: Jack and Reagan Richmond (02:54)
From: StoryCorps

Jack Richmond tells his daughter, Reagan, about being an amputee.

StoryCorps MVI: Daniel and Evelyn Hodd (02:20)
From: StoryCorps

Staff Sergeant Daniel Hodd and his mother, Evelyn, talk about Daniel's decision to put aside a promising career as a pianist in order to join the Marine Corps.

Caption: Ruben Aguilar (R) and Bill Luna (L)

StoryCorps Historias: Ruben Aguilar and Bill Luna (02:01)
From: StoryCorps

Ruben Aguilar tells his friend Bill Luna about his family's deportation as part of the Mexican Repatriation Program in 1933.

StoryCorps: Dawn Maestas (04:00)
From: StoryCorps

Dawn Maestas, who removes tattoos for survivors of domestic violence, talks to a client about her work.

StoryCorps: Lucinda Marker and John Tull (02:17)
From: StoryCorps

Lucinda Marker and her husband, John Tull, talk about being diagnosed with bubonic plague in 2002.

StoryCorps: John Cruitt and Cecile Doyle (02:41)
From: StoryCorps

John Cruitt speaks with his former third grade teacher, Cecile Doyle, about how she helped him through his mother's death.

StoryCorps: Reginald Mason (01:57)
From: StoryCorps

Reginald Mason remembers growing up in Harlem with his mother during the 1970s.

StoryCorps MVI: Randy and Judy Pilgrim (02:53)
From: StoryCorps

Judy and Randy Pilgrim remember their son and Iraq war veteran, Army Specialist Lance Pilgrim.

Piece Description

This is a story about reaching the end of life.

It was recorded as part of StoryCorps’ Legacy Initiative–an effort to collect interviews with people who have life-threatening conditions.

In 2010, David Plant was diagnosed with skin cancer. Since then, the cancer has metastasized in other parts of his body.

David sat down for a StoryCorps Legacy interview with his stepson, Frank Lilley.

Broadcast History

NPR's Morning Edition 3/30/12

Transcript

David Plant (DP): I’m David Plant, I’m almost 81 years old, and I’m about to speak to my son, Frank.

Frank Lilley (FL): My name’s Frank Lilley. Difference in names is because David is my stepfather, but I certainly consider him my father. So you first met me when I was about nine or ten years old, when you married my mother. And I’m just wondering what your impressions were of me at the time.

DP: You were a good-looking, athletic guy, but you were in the unhappy situation of broken family.

FL: I didn’t have a lot of people to look up to at that time–or a lot of friends, really. And so you became one of those very rapidly and that meant a lot to me. You know, I was thinking the other day how much I’ve looked up to you and used you as an example. And I realized that’s what I’m doing right now, again. I’m watching all of this and I’m trying to learn how are you handling all this.

DP: We...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Time now for StoryCorps.

Today, a story about reaching the end of life. It was recorded as part of StoryCorp's new Legacy Initiative, an effort to collect interviews with people who have life-threatening conditions.

In 2010, David Plant was diagnosed with skin cancer.. which has since metastasized in other parts of his body.

David recently sat down with his stepson to talk about his death.

OUTRO:

David Plant with his stepson, Frank Lilley in New London, NH.

They participated in StoryCorp's new Legacy Initiative. Their conversation will be archived at the Library of Congress.