November 29, 2010

Dear Blue Star Connection Staff,

I wanted to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to you for the recent donation of musical instruments and equipment to Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics!  The equipment has already been quite a help to us, especially for use in checking out to patients and their families for use in their rooms.  It is almost as if there was a secret message delivered that said, “more equipment is now available—please just ask”. As an example, last week we had a phone call in the office from a dad of a small child in the intensive care unit.  The dad requested either a guitar or a keyboard for his own use as a stress management tool as he deals with the added stress and worry over his hospitalized child.  Of course, we were able to offer him either one and he has been receiving the benefits that music can provide as an emotional outlet.  This week one of our music therapists saw the face of an adolescent light up when he found out we had an electric bass that he could play.  The therapist has been making wonderful use of that instrument as she has provided therapeutic interventions for him that are meaningful and that bring joy to the patient.  Today the patient had a friend visiting and there was talk of a nice jam session possibly developing!  So, I just heard that this DID happen and the friend utilized one of the new electric guitars to play along.  The dad of the patient related it was a good thing that this happened because otherwise the patient would have just played video games all afternoon.  I have attached a couple of pictures of this patient (written permission to use the pics for this purpose was obtained from his parents).

I also wanted to thank you for the passes into the benefit concert for BSC at Knucklehead’s Saloon.  I’m sorry that none of us were able to stay for the entire show because the music we heard was fantastic!  I hope you raised a nice amount of money for your cause because it is a good one.  It was wonderful, though, to have the opportunity to meet John and speak with both him and Don for a little while.  I understand that he now has a Missouri Blue Star!

Thank you again for your generosity and for your organization’s support of bringing music to hospitalized children and to those that find the benefit of continuing at home.

Sincerely,

Kim Robertson, MBA, MT-BC

Music Therapy Supervisor

Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

2401 Gillham Road

Kansas City, MO  64108