Healing Power of Music
Children’s Music Fund provides Music Therapy to children affected by chronic conditions or life-altering illnesses. While doctors use medications to treat symptoms, music can provide additional healing for both the body and soul. Engaging sick children in music-making and listening helps reduce pain and anxiety and provides a much needed distraction from their conditions and medical treatments. With your help, more children can benefit from Music Therapy.
Emma’s Story
While Children’s Music Fund typically funds music therapist visits to children in hospitals, during the coronavirus crisis, we have shifted our therapy to in-home video sessions. Emma was the first child to benefit from our Telehealth Music Therapy. The photo above was taken during her first session with Eiress, one of our talented Music Therapists before her next round of chemotherapy. Eiress was able to transform Emma’s fear of butterfly needles, a device commonly used to deliver intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, into a beautiful butterfly song. Emma will continue to receive Telehealth Music Therapy in weekly intervals, as she overcomes her fear, pain and anxiety while singing the butterfly song, and many other soothing melodies to come.
Increased Isolation and Need During COVID-19
One of the most challenging aspects of the coronavirus crisis is the ban of most visitors from hospitals, even for non-COVID-19 illnesses. With only one visitor allowed per pediatric patient, many children are unable to be comforted by parents, guardians, siblings and even Music Therapists. Sick children feel isolated on a daily basis even in the best of times— anxious, fearful, and often in pain. These are difficult times for hospitalized children, and we need help improving their experience.
Your support . . . helps more children in need
Our fundraising has been grassroots in nature, and many of our fundraising plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis. With your support and increased funding, we will expand in-home services and bring music back to children in hospitals. We will equip pediatric wards with instruments and a portable recording studio as well as fund more Music Therapists. In order to serve more children during this crisis and on an ongoing basis, a limited portion of the funds raised after the first $30,000 may be used to bring in a program manager.
Our plea, help us bring music and comfort to more pediatric patients.
Think of how music makes you feel. Our studies show that even one hour a week of Music Therapy helps normalize vital signs, decreases pain and anxiety and increases social interaction.
Your Donation Benefits a Sick Child
Each donation of $50 provides one Telehealth Music Therapy session. A donation of $500 provides a full round of Telehealth Music Therapy sessions for a sick child. Donate here.