Peace of Heart Choir Sings at Ronald McDonald House
By Carrie Wesolowski
Photos by Jeanette Reyes and Carrie Wesolowski
“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.
”
This quote is the philosophy behind the mission of Ronald McDonald House which is celebrating its 40th anniversary of serving families of children in treatment for cancer—a celebration in recognition of the 59,000 families they have served in those 40 years. Ronald McDonald House New York partnering with local affiliated hospital partners, provide not only a place to stay for families during their child’s treatment, but other amenities, and support services and activities.
This sign greets visitors to the Ronald McDonald House in New York City.
On Sunday, November 24th, with Thanksgiving approaching, we performed an outreach concert at their beautiful Macy's Living Room, a carpeted community room on the first floor, filled with plush couches, comfy chairs, a tropical fish aquarium built into a full wall of the room, and baby grand piano.
Surrounded by beautiful artwork with an “always thankful” plaque at our backs—not just a reminder of the Thanksgiving holiday but a sentiment we should carry every day—we gathered around the Steinway & Sons baby grand piano with our maestro René playing as 19 of us performed to a small group that grew as our concert progressed. The small group included an infant, several boys and girls and their families.
One could see the physical toll of cancer—for instance, the baby with the nose tube. However, one could also see the support Ronald McDonald House provides to families as well as the children—a chance for families to regroup and relax and regain their strength to support their child. Indeed, as we sang, we saw first hand the opportunity that recreational activities like our concert provide. As it says in Ronald McDonald House’s brochure, “children just get to be kids and patients second.”
The unique support that music provides was evident as we watched a mother who cradled her infant and seemed relaxed as we sang or as we witnessed another mom who smiled and held her son close as she stroked his hair as they listened to our music. Later, her son also ran around a little bit, just being a kid who seemed proud that a Halloween skeleton costume he wore was on full display. One man, in a holiday-themed sweater, smiled as he sang along to our sing-alongs and recorded his daughter as a few children, including his daughter, played happily with our maracas shaking them to several of our songs.
The choir performing at Ronald McDonald House the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
We began our outreach concert with our usual Siyahamba/Shosholoza combo before moving onto standard repertoire favorites such as Stand by Me, Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, Oh, I Woke Up this Morning and Michael Row Your Boat Ashore. Beyond these standard tunes, this time around we also incorporated children’s themed songs like Under One Sky and Mi Chacra.
Ronald McDonald House staff member Dani presented René with a matted group photo taken of the choir. She also gave me a “Thank You” card with the Ronald McDonald House logo that read the following:
Dear POHC,
Thank you so much for performing for our families! It was a very special treat!
Love,
Dani
After the concert, a little girl dressed in pink was recording several choir members who were singing the ABCs song. I soon joined the group. A little while after we’d all finished singing, she asked me personally to sing for her. Before I knew it, I was performing a concert of my own for her as she recorded eagerly on her cell phone. Soon, a few choir members joined me.
“One more, one more song” was her favorite refrain.
As I walked out, I thought of a woman in our audience who was so touched that she had tears in her eyes during Lead with Love as these lyrics were sung:
“Don’t give up hope. You’re not alone.”
Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much. Anything is possible.
In Harmony,
Carrie Wesolowski, Alto 1