The Healing Harmony at St. Judes

Music and laughter are filling the halls of St. Jude, thanks to Musical Therapist Amy Love. Love recently joined the St. Jude Child Life program, by providing a musical outlet to help with physical, psychological, cognitive or social functioning for patients of all ages.

She makes her rounds, guitar strapped to her back, pushcart in tow, piled with drums and ukuleles; little xylophones and jingly bells on bracelets; even a cylinder that, when shaken, sounds like a thunderstorm. As she passes through the corridors, children grin, parents nod and, by the dozens, she calls them by name.

Love says she enjoys offering choices to children who may not feel that they have control over other aspects of their life. Aside from her musical cart, Amy also holds a group session where patients and siblings sing, hum and play instruments. Love’s duties range from planning performance events such as children's recitals, to encouraging kids to dance and sing their problems away.

In an interview with Promise, St. Judes Magazine, Love talks about how the profession is a passion. “I really value the patients, what they are going through and their stories,” she said. “I love to see how music helps them emotionally and psychologically.”

St. Jude is thankful for their caring musician. Amy's passion for the job, has shown through her latest idea for her patients. Amy is working with St. Jude staff to record the heart beat of patients, and then using that as the basis for a song. In the song kids can sing to their heart beat, or can leave a message for their parents.

Amy hopes that the song will be a reminder that the kid and parent's can look back on some day. Unfortunately, for some families the song that is created may be the last reminder of their child.

It is our hope, that with your donations, parents won't have to listen to their child's heart beat on a CD, and can instead watch their child grow.