Strand was in the hospital undergoing vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), which helps drain the discharge and promotes rapid healing. The music made her time in bed more bearable.
Strand wasn't the only kid to get a lift from a musical interlude. The two musicians who sang for Strand, Cris Valkyria from Philadelphia and Lou Paglione from Williamstown, were part of Musicians on Call - a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City that brings volunteer musicians to the bedsides of patients each week. WXPN-FM (88.5), the University of Pennsylvania public radio station, partnered with Musicians on Call in 2004 to form the Philadelphia branch.
WXPN Musicians on Call play for patients at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.
Valkyria and Paglione, performing as "Cris and Lou Children's Project," began volunteering at Children's Hospital and St. Christopher's more than a year ago. They visit between 15 and 30 children a month with their alternative-indie-folk-rock-pop music.
When they're not on call, the two also play together in the band Cris Valkyria and the Opponents.
They began writing songs for kids when Valkyria realized she could use music to help parents with child-rearing. She was having trouble potty training her son at the time, and composed a catchy song to make the job easier. Now, Valkyria and Paglione's "Potty Training Song" and other songs such as "Thank You" focus on manners and life lessons.
