Prescribe Joy to Seriously Ill Kids and Teens

Christopher was a sweet bundle of energy who loved animals and playing musical instruments. CCA first came into his life after he was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at just 18 months old. He was matched with a Chemo Pal mentor who brought fun and friendship during treatment, and enjoyed visits from CCA’s MyMusicRx team. Christopher battled hard for a year and a half before entering hospice care. Wanting to fill Christopher’s final days with joy, his parents asked CCA for a special party with family and friends, and some of his favorite things – frogs and reptiles! CCA's Link program reached out to the Beaverton Bakery, who provided an incredible frog cake, and to House of Reptiles, who brought along a variety of slimy, scaly guests that made Christopher laugh and smile with joy.

CCA’s Link program is a community network of caring people and organizations that unites local families facing serious pediatric illness with connections to local and national resources. We help families with specific, essential needs, from providing a child with a new pair of eyeglasses to granting the wish of a child with a terminal illness. Other CCA programs that prescribe joy to families with seriously ill children and teens include:

• Chemo Pal® Mentor Program, an award-winning program that matches children and teens with trained adult mentors who provide friendship, diversion, and fun to kids undergoing treatment.
• 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 includes bedside sing-a-longs led by trained music specialists, instrument lending from customized mobile music carts, concerts, and iPad and headphone check-outs. The online extension, MyMusicRx.org, is the only digital music program of its kind; it enables seriously ill kids to play and download free music games, explore digital instruments and watch exclusive video song prescriptions from their favorite artists – whenever and wherever, 24/7.
• The Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™, a secluded home along the Pacific Coast nestled in 24 acres of surrounding woods with plentiful wildlife and a serene lake, provides an essential health connection with nature and an extraordinary place for families to relax and create once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Links:

• Check out our homepage
• See our programs in action!