The Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope (AAFH) held a Music Night at the Ronald McDonald House near Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL on Thursday, February 27, 2020.
Immediately prior to that we also made a delivery of 50 Alyssa Starter Art Kits (SAKs) to the art therapist, Lori Mackey at Advocate Children’s Hospital located across the street from RMH. Lori is a friend dedicated to our mission who we have worked with for several years. It was good catching up with her again and to hear how this hospital continues helping the inpatient children staying there.
At the RMH, we arrived early and met the new evening House Manager, Margaret, who started only a month ago. She was happy to accept our donation of 50 Alyssa SAKs including journals, drawing kits, coloring books as well as acrylic and watercolor paint kits.
The instruments were set out in anticipation of the children joining in the music night following their dinner. We chatted with the parents and told them about our Foundation’s mission of bringing hope through music and art, and the joys that Alyssa experienced throughout her life through these creative mediums.
On this evening, there were only parents having dinner but no children. Margaret informed us that the children were too ill and at the hospital across the street. We then offered the parents art kits to take back to their children and they graciously accepted.
When the tears welled up in one of the mom’s eyes as she told us about her child being born with heart defects, it was clear that she was grateful to have someone to share her story with.
Even without seeing a single child on this evening, we knew that the time we spent with the parents and the kits that would later be given to the children would be impactful. Each event we hold continues spreading Alyssa’s love for life and the healing power of art and music.
