Cleveland Song Chords Fun Times in Cleveland Again
He wasn't scheduled to receive a chemotherapy infusion that mean solar day, but Marco Kaiser made the drive to Cleveland Clinic Children's anyway. His mission? To meet another teenage cancer patient and music buff, Aidan Comer, and teach him a few chords on Marco's guitar. That first meeting – an impromptu jam session – has spurred a friendship between the two contempo high school graduates, who now try to schedule their chemotherapy sessions at the same time.
"We'd play guitar together, and it was merely a good fourth dimension," says Marco, nineteen, who is nearly to begin his freshman twelvemonth at Lakeland Community Higher. "Subsequently that first meeting, I thought, 'This guy is really chill.' So we became friends and started hanging out."
Aidan (left) and Marco (correct) enjoyed music therapy separately while beingness treated at Cleveland Clinic Children's. Music therapist, Emily Ervin, continued them. (Courtesy: Aidan Comer and Marco Kaiser)
Aidan, 18, appreciates having a teenage friend with the same interests and who likewise understands what it'southward similar dealing with cancer. "(Cancer) is non something a lot of kids tin can relate to," says the Fairview Park Loftier School graduate. "We just have this agreement with each other that no one else necessarily has because they haven't been through it."
Cleveland Clinic Children's music therapist Emily Ervin had the idea that Marco and Aidan should meet. She was working with each of the teens separately, during their lengthy outpatient handling sessions at the hospital, when she realized they had much in common.
"Aidan was newly diagnosed, and he and his mom said it would exist and so overnice to connect with someone hither at Cleveland Clinic that's going through the same thing," she recalls. "So, I idea it would be wonderful to endeavor and connect these two."
In March 2020, doctors discovered a tumor in Aidan's epididymitis. He was ultimately diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. (Courtesy: Aidan Comer)
According to Emily, patients are often fatigued to music to help deal with their medical journey. "They might be in pain and utilize music for relaxation, or they might be hither for a really long visit and need a distraction to make the time get by. Music tin can help patients with whatever they demand it to assist with, and it'south my chore to tailor music for their needs."
Aidan, a lifelong musician, who underwent treatment for a course of muscle and tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, asked for a music therapist to teach him how to play guitar.
"She (Emily) taught me two chords, and I wrote a song with those ii chords. I called it, "Be Positive." It was considering my claret was B positive," says Aidan.
Marco, meanwhile, has been dealing with cancer for most 5 years. Initially diagnosed with an inflammatory disease that caused severe rashes, fevers and chills, Marco ultimately was found to have leukemia. Afterward months of chemotherapy, he went into remission. The cancer returned in 2019, and Marco returned to Cleveland Clinic Children's for additional chemotherapy. Currently, both teens are in remission.
Doctors diagnosed Marco with leukemia in 2016. He went into remission but relapsed in 2019. He underwent a 12-month chemotherapy regimen and is currently back in maintenance. (Courtesy: Marco Kaiser)
In improver to becoming friends with Aidan, Marco has as well enjoyed existence somewhat of a mentor to him, since he has undergone cancer treatment for a much longer time. "I liked making him feel good, and not sad, because he was going through a tough time. I wanted to be there for him, help him, cheer him on. Information technology's helped me go a better person."
The 2 friends have fifty-fifty embarked on a musical journey together, forming a rock ring – Nü Gen – with three other friends of Marco'southward. They practice regularly in Marco'due south family'south basement, typically with Marco on drums and Aidan on his new musical instrument, the electric guitar. 1 of the band's first songs, co-written by Marco and Aidan, is "You lot Couldn't Ask for More," a testament to the power of friendship.
Emily has enjoyed watching Marco (meridian left) and Aidan (far right) abound as musicians and friends. (Courtesy: Cleveland Clinic)
Whether or not Nü Gen achieves stardom, they have at to the lowest degree one enduring fan: Emily. "It'southward really been fun to just step dorsum and watch them abound, as musicians and friends. I will be at that place for whatsoever testify. I'm super proud of them."
Beyond them existence bandmates, Aidan values his unique connection with Marco, too. "People walk on egg shells (because of cancer). Simply Marco and I tin talk virtually that stuff with each other," he explains. "We don't fifty-fifty have to speak to each other. Marco and I really click mentally. We simply play music."
Related Institutes: Cleveland Clinic Children'due south
Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/patient-stories/509-teen-cancer-patients-connect-through-music-and-form-band
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