The posts on this blog are from an anonymous parent of one of our Love Bus kids, but her experiences in having a son with childhood cancer are shared by many parents and caregivers. Any guest posts submitted to us by other parents will be labeled as such.
While the impact of wishes is seen every day, we are currently on the brink of revealing the results of research that verifies the proven physical and emotional benefits wishes give children with critical illnesses. Wishes are catalysts for hope, profoundly effective in fueling a child's drive to defy the odds and push toward tomorrow.
I can still remember sitting on my couch discussing the services offered by our community based palliative care program. I had no idea what palliative care meant at the time, but six months into my son’s cancer diagnosis, I was very used to people coming in and out of our home – early intervention, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, feeding/speech. This meeting felt no different. Our palliative care program required periodic social work and nursing visits but they also offered music therapy, massage therapy and a volunteer. I said Yes to all of them.
Ryan Judd, board-certified music therapist and owner of The Rhythm Tree in southern NH, speaks with Catherine, the mother of Zoe, a Lucy's Love Bus child who received music therapy with him while undergoing treatment for her brain tumor.