Tell Me a Story: Music Therapy Helps 12-year-old Leukemia Patient

Brian Schreck is something like the Pied Piper of Cincinnati Children's. He walks the halls with a guitar strapped on his back, pushing a cart of instruments, and stops in patient rooms to encourage kids to goof off and make noise. Schreck, a Berklee College of Music-trained musician who holds a master's degree in music therapy from New York University, pioneered the pediatric music therapy program at Cincinnati Children's four years ago, primarily as an outlet for cancer and rehab patients. He has gained such a following that the hospital has added three more music therapists. His fan base includes kids such as Christopher "Critter" Smith, a 12-year-old battling his second relapse of leukemia. Critter has been in and out of the hospital since he was in third grade, and when he heard electric guitars reverberating in another room one day, he asked how he could get in on that kind of therapy. Schreck showed up at his door, ready to rock, and the two started jam sessions that don't stop even when nurses come in to take Critter's temperature. Even though his illness is always in the back of his mind, Critter says Schreck has been able to do something for him that his doctors and nurses can't: Make him forget about being sick, if only momentarily. Listen to Brian and Critter jam in this "Tell Me a Story".

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• music therapy
• Cincinnati Children's
• leukemia
• outlet for cancer
• rock 'n roll
• electric guitar
• tell
• me
• story
• hospital
• medical
• center
• Brian
• Schreck
• Christopher
• critter
• smith
• teen
• teenagers
• relapse
• patients
• instruments

[ShroomSamich]

\m/

[clowngirl1989]

Rest in peace, Critter.

He was a huge KISS fan.

[katlynbuemi]

He wasnt just A lukemia patient. He was SO much more. He was A great person. And he should Rest In Peacee <3

[katlynbuemi]

R.I.P critter <3

[babailer82]

i love you criiter rip

[babailer82]

rip critter we love you

[MsActresswannabe]

R.I.P Critter <3

You were such a good person. Your always in our hearts. 

[zanelovesmrf]

rip critter



[jc6749]

Blue Star found its genie in the bottle in Brian, he makes us all feel like playing harder.

[jc6749]

Brian is great soul , he is changing the world for these kids.