Prescribe Joy to Seriously Ill Kids and Teens

Raquel, a 2014 CCA Community Hero, is a soft-spoken 12-year old with a sweet smile and an affinity for fuzzy hats. Since her diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Raquel has spent a year in treatment and faces yet another grueling year of it.

CCA understands the immense toll that a cancer diagnosis and its treatment can take—that’s why they sent Raquel and her family to the Caring Cabin for a much-needed break.

More than 40 family members like Raquel’s visit CCA’s luxurious Caring Cabin hideaway in a typical month. This free adventure helps restore the energy and hope kids need to battle their illness over the long haul. CCA understands that play can sometimes be the thing that’s needed most.

The health benefits of nature are scientifically proven to decrease anxiety, stress, and depression, and have been noted to boost the immune system to fight cancer. For pediatric patients, the Caring Cabin, nestled in 24 acres of surrounding woods with plentiful wildlife and a serene lake, provides an essential health connection with nature and healing.

Other CCA programs that prescribe joy to families with seriously ill children and teens include:

• Link, a community network of caring people and organizations that provides wishes and unites local families with essential needs and connections to resources.
• Chemo Pal Mentor® Program, an award-winning program that matches children and teens with trained adult mentors
• MyMusicRx®, a one-of-a-kind music medicine program that lets “kids prescribe” the music experience that feels right to them. The in-hospital program, led by MyMusicRx Specialists, provides access to CCA’s digital music medicine program, MyMusicRx.org, which enables kids to play free music games, explore digital instruments and watch exclusive video song prescriptions from their favorite artists – whenever and wherever, 24/7.

Links:

• Learn how you can help CCA prescribe JoyRx

CCA is thrilled to be chosen as GlobalGiving's Project of the Month for March 2014! Learn more about this exciting honor by visiting globalgiving.org/project-of-the-month-club.

Ryland spent more than 130 nights in the hospital while he underwent chemotherapy the first time. A relapse in 2012 sent his family again into a state of separation and anxiety. They desperately needed a way to reconnect.

“The Caring Cabin allowed our family to temporarily leave behind all the stuff that comes with fighting cancer day in and day out,” said Ryland’s mom, Jenn. “We didn’t even realize how much we needed it until we got here.”

More than 40 family members like Ryland’s visit CCA’s luxurious Caring Cabin hideaway in a typical month. This free adventure helps restore the energy and hope kids need to battle their illness over the long haul. CCA understands that play is sometimes the thing that’s needed most.

Other CCA programs that prescribe JoyRx to families with seriously ill children and teens include:

• MusicRx®, CCA’s flagship music medicine program that soothes and rejuvenates hospitalized children, teens, their family members, and the medical professionals who care for them, by infusing the hospital environment with the healing power of music.
• MyMusicRx, an online extension of MusicRx. Kids and teens across the U.S. and Canada can register to receive free music medicine at MyMusicRx.org. On any given day, 24/7, they can play online music games, explore digital instruments, record original music, watch exclusive video greetings from favorite artists, and connect with other youth.
• Chemo Pal® Mentor Program, an award-winning program that matches children and teens with trained adult mentors who offer supportive relationships throughout treatments.
• Link, a community network of caring people and organizations that provides wishes and unites local families with essential needs and connections to resources.