News from Hugworks

Fall, 2006 - Volume 2, Edition 3

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IN CELEBRATION

On September 14th, Paul G. Hill and I had the opportunity to attend and sing for members of the Pediatric Nursing Association at their 22nd Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas. We were honored there to receive the organization’s Humanitarian Award, which is sponsored by Janetti Publications and the Pediatric Nursing Journal. This Award has been presented to a notable list of folks, including Paul Newman (Hole in the Wall Gang Camp), Rosalynn Carter (Every Child by Two), Marian Wright Edleman (Children’s Defense Fund), and Rear Admiral Julia R. Plotnick (U.S. Public Health Service). The inscription on the beautiful bronze art piece that we were given says, “Pediatric Nursing 2006 Humanitarian Award - Jim Newton - Paul G. Hill - Hugworks - September 14, 2006”.

It was very gratifying to receive this honor, and to have it presented by a great friend of ours and Hugworks, Cynda Rushton, Assistant Professor of Nursing/Faculty BioEthics, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Cynda serves on our Advisory Board and provides excellent direction for many of our projects.

Of course, the highest honor we could ever receive is the one we continue to have - day by day, year in and year out - to sing our songs of healing and hope for hospitalized children and families. We have learned so much from their courage and resilience, and oftentimes we feel that we get much more than we could ever give, as we provide our therapeutic entertainment.

We recently met a little girl we’ll call Sally (name changed to protect family privacy). She was wheeled into the playroom where Paul and I were singing at one of the metro area hospitals we serve regularly. At first she seemed a little lethargic, just sitting quietly in her wheelchair. But when I began to introduce the State Laughs song, she almost yelled out, “I saw you at that other hospital where I was - I know this song, it’s the hee-hee-hee one!” Her face was just beaming and she proceeded to energetically shake the rhythm shaker we had given her and to sing every hee-hee-hee and ho-ho-ho of the song. As we went on with our sing-along, she continued to participate but began to tire pretty soon and finally returned to her room.

When we finished our program there, we packed up to move to another floor of the hospital. As we walked down the hall, Sally’s grandmother, who had been with her in the playroom, came up to Paul and said, “I can’t thank you enough for what you do. Music is such a big help! We almost lost Sally last night, and she’s going in tomorrow for her 28th surgery. She hasn’t had many reasons to smile lately. Thank you so much!" and she gave Paul a big hug.

And so it goes - Paul and I, and Bizzy Tober, (our Music Therapist), continue this work we love. Thank you for all you do, as a Hugworks friend and supporter, to make it happen!

In Celebration,

Jim Newton - President & Founder

Consider These Gift Opportunities

HELP US BRING SMILES TO THE FACES OF CHILDREN AROUND THE COUNTRY!

YOUR GIFT WILL HELP US CONTINUE OUR OUTREACH WITH HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. A ONE TIME GIFT, OR MONTHLY - QUARTERLY - YEARLY PLEDGE OF $25, $50, $100 OR MORE - WILL PROVIDE OUR HEALING SONGS FOR MANY, MANY KIDS! (Click on Opportunities-Donor for pledge form)

DONATE FREQUENT FLYER AIR MILES TO HUGWORKS TO OFFSET THE COST OF AIRFARE THAT TAKES US TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS AROUND THE COUNTRY (Click on Opportunities Quick Link for details)