Physical Health United States Project #4194

MyMusicRx Delivers Music Medicine

by Children's Cancer Association

Project Report | Jun 1, 2018
Ready, Set, Action - McKenzie's Music Moment

By Kelly Carmody | Digital Content and Social Media Specialist

McKenzie singing for Bedstock

You might recognize McKenzie as one of our 2016 CCA Heroes, a title which she still embodies today. She’s known as a prankster with the medical team, playing tricks on them and working her sassy charm. She’s also a kind, thoughtful girl, whose positive outlook inspires everyone who meets her.

In 2014, her life changed dramatically when an unassuming sniffle and cough, turned out to be a rare virus. Twelve days later, she was paralyzed from the neck down. The disease took McKenzie’s ability to move, including the ability to dance, something she had loved so much and had connected her to a passion for music.

Spending years in and out of the hospital, working intensely on her health with speech and physical therapists, McKenzie’s relationship with music, which had been so important when she could dance was not gone, but also not what it used to be.

A Music Video Director is Born

Today, she loves pop music and it’s rare to name a song on the radio McKenzie doesn’t know. When MyMusicRx Specialist, Caitlin learned that McKenzie loved music, she offered her the opportunity to take part in a Bedstock music video. Bedstock is an online music festival, where artists play from bed for kids and teens stuck in their hospital beds. Each year, CCA also offers the opportunity to kids and teens so they can be “on stage” with their favorite artists.

Suffice to say, McKenzie was ecstatic, and immediately began to direct the entire shoot! She knew exactly the songs she wanted to sing and told Caitlin to come back later in the afternoon so that she could change into her favorite shirt, brush her hair and practice the songs.

When Caitlin returned that afternoon, McKenzie was ready to perform! It was a huge success for McKenzie and brightened her day. While McKenzie made it look easy, she struggles to speak, and it took extra breath and effort for her to sing.

“To hear her singing felt like such an achievement,” said Caitlin. “It’s also important to note how much motor control it takes for her not only to grasp a flashlight but to hold it throughout the song. She announced to everyone that she was so proud of herself and she was going to share this video with her “followers!”

A Love for Music Empowering Change

While McKenzie’s relationship with dance has changed, she hasn’t let her love of music slip away and in fact she’s using it to inspire. Her love of music empowered her to assert herself and direct others for a change. Now she can share with her friends, family and followers that she can participate in successful activities just like them.

McKenzie has big plans for her future, she’s decided that when she grows up she wants a job that helps children with music. Not only does she have CCA Hero on her resume, but she can add “Director” as well.

You can help deliver joy to kids just like McKenzie by donating to CCA today.

McKenzie's CCA Hero Photo

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Mar 7, 2018
Holly records with Chris Funk of The Decemberists

By Kelly Carmody | Digital Content and Social Media Specialist

Holly Recording

Holly is passionate about her family and has the uncanny ability to find the good in most of life’s challenges. It’s a quality that’s come in handy when making the decision to end treatment for a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma and simply live life to the fullest and love every minute of it.

When the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) met Holly years ago, she was quiet and shy, but coming from a family where music is an integral part of everyday life, she had a deep passion for singing.

During her time in the hospital, Holly’s musical skills were put to good use playing with the MyMusicRx team. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she and her mom decided to perform in CCA’s annual Bedstock music festival.

Her song choice “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten went on to garner over 315K views on Facebook and most importantly, helped Holly find her voice.

Since Bedstock, Holly has grown into a courageous and inspiring young woman. She even has her own motto, “love is everywhere”. Her musical prowess continues to grow as she hones her voice and ukulele abilities.

So, it was no coincidence that when CCA Board Member and multi-instrumentalist for The Decemberists, Chris Funk, offered to host a recording session at his Halfling Studios, we instantly thought of Holly.

“I’m honored to be a CCA board member and proud of the work we do. I love music and have been fortunate to have a career doing what I love. It is truly amazing and a blessing when I can combine two things I adore.

When we brought Holly and her family into the studio for a day of recording, I was truly flabbergasted how a family could still laugh and sing and love life while staring down their daughter’s challenges in life, to pick up each day and carry on.

There are so many factors in the world to what ‘keeps us going’, especially when life hands you one of the worst cards you can get. Experiencing how music empowers this family to join in song and love, was an honor for me to share for an afternoon and reinforced the healing power of music.” -Chris Funk

Recording From the Studio

In total, 13 family members recorded music with an array of instruments, performing “Fight Song” and another of Holly’s favorites, “This Is My Song” by Mindy Gledhill.

As lead singer, Holly, was accompanied by her aunts, cousins, sisters, mom on piano and dad on guitar. Plus, Chris added his expertise on the electric bass. The experience meant the world to Holly and her close-knit family, providing them with a one-of-a-kind professional recording and mixing session.

Holly’s mother, Heidi, who also served as musical director, expressed her gratitude: “We had the most amazing experience as a member of the band The Decemberists invited us to their recording studio to record some of the songs Holly has sung over the past few years.

‘Fight Song’ was such an important part of Holly’s first battle with cancer. She sang it as part of Bedstock, sang it for thousands at a middle school and high school assembly for the Sparrow Club, sang it for her benefit concert (one of the most special nights of my life). The words fit her story so perfectly. He (Chris) gave his time and talents to capture her sweet voice and created a memory we will never forget.

She was tired and in pain when we first got there but it didn’t take long for her to be full of smiles. I am overcome by the amount of amazing, giving people we have met in this journey with cancer. Life is not easy but there is so so much good in it.”

Together we can make music medicine a priority in pediatric hospitals across the country. Join us in providing music to children and teens who need it most by making a donation today.

Bruno Family with Chris Funk

Holly Singing Fight Song

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Dec 18, 2017
Using Music to Reduce Stress & Perception of Pain

By Kelly Carmody | Digital Content and Social Media Specialist

Lyla's Music Medicine

MyMusicRx Supervisor, Elke, scheduled a music session with a little girl named Lyla. She was excited to sing some of her favorite Disney songs—especially those from Moana—but as Elke approached her room, she was informed that Lyla would be moving to a different area of the hospital for a procedure. Instead of turning away, Elke saw this as an opportunity to provide Lyla with some much-needed music medicine.

Elke handed Lyla small egg shakers and maracas as they wheeled the hospital bed through the halls. Once situated, Elke began singing Lyla’s favorite songs in a soft and soothing tone.

Lyla became agitated and nervous as the procedure began. Occasionally she would wince in pain, cry out to her mother, or ask the nurse to stop. Elke continued to play at a steady pace, drawing Lyla’s gaze and attention back to the guitar and the music.

As the procedure continued, Lyla focused more and more on Elke’s music and began to softly sing along to Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go” and Beauty and the Beast’s “Tale As Old As Time.” It took the nurse 45 minutes to finish the procedure, but Lyla had music to soothe her the entire time.

While the original music lesson didn’t go as planned, it was obvious that Elke’s music and consistent support during the procedure served as a beneficial distraction from pain that helped reduce stress and made the experience more bearable for Lyla.

The Positive Impact

A few days later, Elke reconnected with Lyla and her family to provide another music session as originally promised. Lyla was active this time, singing all the words and playing with her maracas & drums. She proudly performed four to five songs with Elke in front of her parents before growing tired. Lyla’s positive experience shows how music is often vital when helping seriously ill children and teens cope in a hospital situation.

Lyla was also featured on our online music festival, Bedstock, where artists play in bed for sick kids stuck in theirs. She performed a song from her bed, and now her video has joined the “stage” next to artists like Ed Sheeran, Ringo Starr and The Breeders!

Watch Lyla singing her favorite song from Beauty and the Beast on Bedstock.com.

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