Spirits soar through creative music program

By Dana Benson

The positive role that art can play in a child's cancer treatment has long been understood at the Texas Children's Cancer Center and Hematology Program, a joint center of Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine.

The center's Arts in Medicine program offers youngsters and their siblings the opportunity to express themselves through the visual arts, writing, performing dance and plays and more. And now children have another expressive avenue – writing and recording music.

A new program, "Purple Songs Can Fly", lets cancer and hematology patients and their siblings write and record their own music at an in-house studio at the cancer center.

Songwriting lifts patients above illnesses

"As the child steps into the studio and sings their own words into the microphone, we can see their joy shine through," said Anita Kruse, who founded the program. "It's a moment when they seem transported to another place. It's like they are flying and rising above their physical illnesses. I believe each 'purple song' creates a tangible symbol for the hope of healing."

Fabian Garcia is one patient who recently recorded a song during a visit to the center for treatment for a hematological disorder. The youngster had no idea that he would record a song when he showed up for his treatment. "They asked me if I wanted to do it, and I said 'yeah.' It made the day more fun," he said.

Select songs depart on Continental Airlines

Kruse always knew she wanted to see children's spirits soar, but she also wanted the songs to really fly. And now they are doing just that. A play list of Purple Songs debuted May 1 as an in-flight entertainment channel option on Continental Airlines domestic and international flights.

"We are thrilled to lend our support to this highly creative effort," said Susan Hirsch, director of community affairs for Continental Airlines. "The music artists can be especially excited by the fact that their original creations will be heard by a global audience on board both our domestic and international flights."

The inaugural play list represents themes from friendship to fantasy, which are sung by youngsters from 6 to 16 years of age. A CD of Purple Songs Can Fly selections is also scheduled to fly on a fall mission of the Space Shuttle, Kruse said.

Creative arts important element of healing

Artistic activities like making music, singing songs, performing dance, producing plays, writing and telling stories and decorating spaces with visual art enhances the healing environment and treatment experience, according to ZoAnn Dreyer, associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

"Giving the children a chance to create something positive as a lasting memory is an important part of their cancer therapy," Dreyer said.

"We know the power of art," added Carol Herron, Arts in Medicine program coordinator. "It gives children the opportunity to create and express and to gain control over some part of their day. It's kind of a normalizing agent in an otherwise chaotic world."

Welcoming walls

Kruse, who was involved with the Texas Children's Cancer Center as a visiting musician, was familiar with the visual arts and creative writing opportunities available to patients through Arts in Medicine, but she noticed they didn't have a hands-on music component. While working in her home recording studio one day, she had the idea that she could replicate it at the cancer center. Initially, Kruse and Sandy Stewart, a local musician and longtime friend of Kruse who volunteers with Purple Songs Can Fly, used a portable recording studio that they rolled from room to room.

But now there is a permanent studio where the children can write and record their songs. The purple walls and decorations are a welcoming, fun environment for the budding musicians. Children generally start off writing their song, often getting help from Kruse and Stewart or from a volunteer from Writers-in-the-Schools, a nonprofit program that engages children in reading and writing.

"Each child who wants to participate can brainstorm their feelings with us so we can put those thoughts to song lyrics," Kruse said. "The kids are so creative, and they really have something to say."

Fabian's song

Once a song is on paper, Kruse explained, they experiment with musical rhythms based on the type of music the child likes. "We set the lyrics to an appropriate rhythm and allow the child to sing with the music." Sometimes the children are timid, and Kruse and Stewart sing along with them, later drowning out their vocals so the child can be heard.

Fabian wrote a song called "Ecuador Makes Me Happy," about his mother's homeland.

"My Mom was born in Ecuador
We went there on a plane
There were clouds up in the sky
And mountains reaching high

We ate good quinbalitos
And drank delicious juice
We wandered through the streets
And bought a lot of treats

Ecuador makes me happy
My Mom's family is from there
Me amo a Ecuador
Me amo a mi país

We visited a statue
high upon a hill
An angel with a crown
Who looks over the town

My Mom was born in Ecuador
We went there on a plane
There were clouds up in the sky
And mountains reaching high

Ecuador makes me happy
My Mom's family is from there
Me amo a Ecuador
Me amo a mi país"

He sang quietly through the recording and got lots of praise when he was finished. Then Kruse suggested he sing it one more time, this time in a higher voice. "Your voice sounded really good like that," she told him when he finished the second time.

Amazing talents

Many children, like Fabian, record songs about a topic other than their illness. But still others choose to write about their disease. "Songwriting is often emotional, no matter what the circumstances are," Stewart said. "Sometimes it's very emotional in here with some of the kids, and other times we're just cracking up. But the common thread is that these are some very talented kids."