I had the opportunity to represent Dr. Tachdjian with the purchase of a home early this year, at which time I was introduced to the doctor’s charity work and moved by what I experienced at a recent silent auction as well. Take a moment to read about it. A portion of future commissions will be donated to the cause.
The Children’s Music Fund (CMF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based out of Southern California whose mission is to provide music therapy and musical instruments to children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic or life altering illnesses, and to support research on the effects of music therapy.
CMF was founded in 2002 by Dr. Raffi Tachdjian, an allergist and pediatric pain specialist, while he was an intern at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was inspired by his teenage patient, Justin, a virtuoso guitarist who had won several awards for his performances. Justin had failed multiple experimental protocols for treatment of his bone cancer. Finding him expressionless, Dr. Tachdjian gave up on his notepad to focus on the one thing that seemed to excite his patient – music. Dr. Tachdjian set out to find a guitar for his patient, but, to his dismay, discovered that there were no instruments in the hospital for patients such as Justin to enjoy. He was, therefore, determined to raise funds to purchase musical instruments and later to provide music therapy for patients like Justin, one at a time.
Since 2002, CMF has provided dozens of instruments and well over 150 hours of music therapy to young children and adolescents with a wide range of chronic and life threatening medical conditions. Far too often, these conditions have devastating and debilitating consequences on the well-being and quality of life of not only our young patients, but also of their families and caregivers. Through music, CMF strives to decrease symptoms of pain and anxiety associated with chronic illnesses and related medical procedures, thereby decreasing hospitalization time and facilitating the healing process. Active engagement with musical experiences and music making also decrease, and in some cases obviate, the need for pain and anxiety medication, which can have adverse physiological and psychological consequences. As such, music therapy eases the transition between the comfort of one’s home and the isolation of the hospital experienced by many patients who undergo complex procedures requiring extended hospital stays.
Visit the website at Children’s Music Fund
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