Have you ever noticed that music can change your mood? Sometimes you might be feeling down until your favourite song comes on the radio and soon you’re dancing around like a rock star!
Music has that effect on hospital patients too. In fact, research shows that there are many benefits to listening to music, such as helping a patient deal with their emotions, relax, sleep, and even have less pain after surgery. That’s why SickKids established the Friends of Music Therapy Program in 1999.
The Music Therapy Program offers entertainment and is an outlet for communication and creativity for our patients while they are facing some of the most difficult times of their life. It allows them to deal with their emotions and frustrations while discovering a new talent and skill.
The power of music knows no limits and is something that everyone can take part in – young and old, big and small.
It can be seen in Drake, the Grammy-nominated recording artist, who recently became an ambassador to the Music Therapy Program here at SickKids. As an artist, Drake knows the power of music and what it can do to those facing challenges in their life.
It can also be seen in Sebastien, a six-year-old transplant patient at SickKids whose love and passion for music is evident to everyone he meets. Sebastien’s story was recently told on a special segment of Global News about the Music Therapy Program which can be seen here.
Music is universal. It is also life-changing. Next time you hear a song on the radio and find yourself in a better mood, now you’ll know why.
More information on the Music Therapy Program can be found here.
AJ from Canada had a burning question for the scientists at SickKids:
Q: "What is the purpose of a sneeze?"
Here is the answer from Dr. Neil Sweezey, a Senior Scientist in Physiology and Experimental Medicine at the SickKids Research Institute, Staff Respirologist in Respiratory Medicine at SickKids and Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.
A: “A sneeze is a strong blast of air that tries to push any irritating things out of your nose. If your nose is runny, such as when you have a cold, the sneeze will spray little droplets all around you. These droplets could make other people sick unless you stop them. This is why you should cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze, using a tissue if you have one, or by sneezing into your sleeve or elbow if you don’t. You don’t want to sneeze onto your hands, because you spread the droplets around when you touch other people or things.”
Have you ever had a burning question about your body or about your health and didn’t know how to find the answer? This might just be the opportunity to get to the bottom of it!
You have the chance to submit your question and it will be answered by a scientist at SickKids who specializes in that area. The best questions and answers will be featured on the Research Institute website.
Check the website often to see if your question gets posted. You can learn about what others want to know and if you read enough answers, you may even become a health expert yourself!
February 21 is Family Day, and that got us thinking, what is Family Day really all about? One thing is for sure. A Monday off during the dull winter months can do wonders to lift your spirits, so why not spend it with the ones you love.
We are all familiar with all the old favourites; Christmas we trim the tree, Hanukah we light the menorah, Thanksgiving we stuff ourselves silly, but what do we do on Family Day? Here at SickKids Foundation, we think it’s about creating new traditions and spending quality time with those that give us love and support. Whether you spend the day at the ice rink, playing board games with friends, curled up watching movies with the family, or in a patient room here at SickKids, it is a day to reflect and cherish the important people in our lives.
At SickKids, we are no strangers to celebrating families. Our patient families are some of the strongest, most resilient that you will find. Our staff, volunteers and donors are also a family, working together to make sure that kids spend less time in the hospital and more time with their loved ones.
Family-centred care has been a very important tradition at SickKids over the years. We understand that treating a patient goes beyond their medical needs and extends to their families needs as well. Through a holistic approach, we work together with families to ensure that they have the information, support, compassion and understanding that they need. It is our goal to see families through this difficult time, so our young patients can go on to lead full, rich and healthy lives. Wherever you may be this Family Day, take time to celebrate the ones you love. Keep in mind the SickKids family who continues to work towards our goal of ensuring families are reunited and every child gets to grow up.
Together, as a family, we will.