Connecting patients with musical instruments

Sometimes, you just need a little music in your life. And, when you're sick with cancer or a blood disorder, music can be a good distraction, especially when you're playing the instrument yourself.

Cheyene Guedea, 15, and Allison Wright, 7, are budding musicians thanks to the Blue Star Connection. Cheyene received an electric keyboard, stand and stool, and Allison got a blue electric guitar and amp from the group. You may remember Cheyene, who was featured on the blog back in April.

The Grand County, Colorado-based charitable foundation donates musical instruments to children with cancer and other serious diseases and has made Children's Medical Center its prototype children's hospital recipient.

The two girls were the first to receive Blue Star Connection instruments at Children's through the hospital's Music Therapy Program, which also has received 10 electric guitars from the organization.

Blue Star Connection, which is poised to begin making donations to other children's hospitals, has been active from New Delhi, India, to Hawaii. "If we only did this for one kid, I'd be happy about the program," said John Catt, a musical events promoter and founder of Blue Star Connection. "In my mind, they are a band in a spiritual way."