Music Groups

One of my greatest pleasures of being a new parent, aside from the love I get and give, is reconnecting with child like communication and games. I love going with Mia to her music group for several Wednesday morning sessions. It was me and the kids and the moms and a skilled kids musician with a sweet voice and smile who sprinkles kids rhythms with folk tunes.

Debra uses lots of aids, a felt painting, large puppets, bags of plush toys, choo choo trains and musical instruments. Of course she has 'super' bubbles. So a medley of train folk songs would be started by her energetically spilling 20 little toy trains and then asking the kids, Who has the yellow train, Who has the red train? The bag of veils are for the kids and parents to pull over their heads during the Sleeping Bunnies song. Just as energetically she encourages everyone to clean up the items in seconds.

At SickKids there is the Bear Theatre with regular performances for kids and occasional concerts and one on one music through Child Life in the private rooms however there appears to be no small music groups. So I asked the only two professional musicians I know, hey, would you be interested in a committed kids group at SickKids and both were completely enthusiastic. I first asked Treasa Levasseur as I had listened to her bands during our time at SickKids, I knew she ran children's groups and she had played at Sasha's unveiling. A Time Magazine Canada review of her latest album puts her energy into perspective: "The CD [Not a Straight Line] is an impressive achievement for the 32-year-old Torontonian, who spends her days traveling in a van full of instruments making house calls to teach music to children."

Caron Mills of Child Life at SickKids was also enthusiastic when we connected by phone this week. She will pull together input from her team so we can look at venues. With the support of Child Life the kids can come from all around the hospital for a weekly session in a playroom. With maybe an emphasis on getting the dads out to have fun and bond with their kids which naturally gives the moms a little break.

Sasha's life in the words of Jimmy Cliff

Come into my life, oh baby, Come in today ... come in to stay, Come into my life, oh baby.

I've got a hard road to travel and a rough rough way to go.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way, Here is that rainbow I've been praying for, It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day.

Many rivers to cross, But I can`t seem to find my way over, Wandering I am lost as I travel along.

Sitting here in Limbo, Waiting for the tide to turn.

Well, they tell me of a pie up in the sky, Waiting for me when I die, But between the day you're born and when you die, They never seem to hear even your cry.

Yesterday I got a letter from my friend ... and this is what he had to say: 'tell all my friends
that I'll be coming home soon, my time will be up some time in June'

Words by Jimmy Cliff

Sasha died in June 2006, she was precious but we didnt know how precious and just when we thought she was thriving she was struggling and then fell into the dark maws of complicated surgical complications. And we sat in limbo waiting for the tide to turn and her return home was a triumph. We miss you sweet peach.