Musical medicine for kids with cancer

By Bre Gregg
The Portland Upside
July 2009

Children’s Cancer Association’s interactive music cart brings entertainment to Darian and other kids with serious illnesses. (Photo provided by CCA)

It’s got four wheels, 100 musical instruments, song-writing software, a custom-built iPod docking station, a video screen and the power to help seriously ill children by bringing music directly to their hospital bedsides. The Children’s Cancer Association’s magical mobile music cart brings joy through a one-of-a-kind interactive music experience. With live hallway music, highly trained music therapists and a corps of volunteers, the CCA’s Music Rx® program makes the rounds at six Portland area hospitals and care facilities, and is now expanding nationally.

After 14 years of experience, research, development, evaluation, awards and accolades, CCA is excited to expand the Music Rx program beyond Portland, Oregon, for the first time. Now, thousands more children will be comforted by the healing power of music at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA in Los Angeles, California, and Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, California.

Music Rx is a three-pronged program, including volunteer musicians playing instruments in hospital corridors, the interactive music cart and on-call specialists who bring comforting music to terminally ill children and their families. This summer, CCA has launched a new songwriting project, pairing seriously ill kids and teens with Portland-based songwriters to co-write, record, mix and produce their own songs.

Providing inspiration to help formulate the child’s raw ideas, the songwriter fosters the child’s creative talents. The lyrics and melody are written by the kids, giving voice to some of the experiences they have had throughout their treatments and their life.

Thirteen year old Lauren likes to write, act and sing. She especially loves musical theater and bubbles with excitement when she talks about the time she and her family went to see the musical Wicked. She is well-spoken, vivacious and full of life. She also happens to have leukemia.
Lauren wanted to be involved with the songwriting project because she feels she has an “ear for music,” but most of all, she loves to sing. Paired with Lisa Forkish, recent winner of the Portland Songwriter’s Association’s Songwriter of the Year, they get to work.

Sitting across from Lisa, Lauren remembers a quote from the movie Kung Fu Panda—words that have had meaning for her throughout her battle with leukemia.

“The past is history, the future is a mystery, but now is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”

From this idea, Lauren creates her lyrics and melody, which she sings as Lisa sits at the piano. Listening attentively, Lisa plays what she hears, adding some beautiful embellishments of her own. When they are done, they are both proud of the piece of music they have created together.

When asked about her Music Rx experience, Lauren says, “It was the best! I knew I could sing, but had no idea I could write a whole song!” She goes on to say that “even though there are many bad experiences that go with cancer, there are quite a few good ones, too.”

For thousands of seriously ill children and their families the peels of playground laughter have been replaced by the beeps of hospital monitors. Music Rx combats pain, fear and loneliness with the healing power of music, transforming the hospital environment with every note.

When seriously ill kids and their families need more than medicine, CCA is there with compassion and innovation, creating moments of respite and hope, both in the hospital and at home. Managed by a professional staff and powered by volunteers, CCA brings soothing music in a time of crisis, friendship in a time of loneliness, resources in a time of turmoil and vital support in the midst of life-threatening illness.

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If you know a child who would be helped by the Music Rx® program, or want to learn more about Joy Rx, a unique combination of resources and programs offered by the Children’s Cancer Association, please visit www.JoyRx.org or call 503-244-3141.

Bre Gregg is a writer for several nonprofit organizations in the Portland area. She is privileged to live in a city she loves, working with organizations and people that inspire her daily.