New daylong music and play event gives patients and families a break from the hospital routine.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Dr. Nick Zyromski can typically be found in the surgery suite at IU Health University Hospital or Riley Hospital for Children, but the pancreatic surgeon took to the stage under sunny skies Thursday, rocking out with his band, the Crooked Finger Rhythm Revue, while Riley kids danced and played in the backyard of the Child Life Zone.
Inside and outside the CLZ, patients and families enjoyed games, face-painting, tote bag decorating, an obstacle course, live music and so much more during the first Rileypalooza.
With a name like that, it just has to be a good time, and 3-year-old Jenson Shank seemed to agree, making his way from activity to activity as his parents, Zac and Olivia, tried to keep up.
“He’s full of it today,” his mom said. “He’s feeling good.”
The Cambridge City couple brought their son to Rileypalooza during a break from an appointment in the Riley Outpatient Center. Other families came down from inpatient areas to enjoy the fun.
The event was a collaboration among Creative Arts Therapies, Child Life, Rehab Services, Recreation Therapy and other teams that came together to give families a day of fun in the Child Life Zone.
“We wanted this to be a family/music festival with activities for kids and live music,” said Jenna Yarnell, manager of the Child Life Department. “It’s an opportunity for families to spend time together doing something they might do outside the hospital.”
Music therapist Julia Powell pitched the idea to Lauren Servos, manager of Creative Arts Therapies, and it gained traction almost immediately.
“I thought a music festival would be a great way to have collaboration among all the different disciplines while also bringing local musicians into the hospital,” she said.
Dr. Zyromski and his band led off the live music portion of the event with an hour-long set of a little rock and roll and some kids’ tunes. Sharing his love of music was a no-brainer.
“Music is a really beautiful thing,” he said. “It crosses so many barriers and brings people together.”
And giving back to Riley, where he sometimes works and once watched over his own sick child, is a privilege.
“I’m so happy to be here. It’s a really special place.”
Servos, who had a special request for the doctor’s group to perform “The Pickle Song” for her daughter at home, said when she approached Yarnell about partnering with Child Life to host the daylong event, the answer was a resounding yes.
“Everybody said yes, and we all made it happen,” Servos said, adding that the Riley Children’s Foundation helped with donations, and community musicians, including Ruditoonz, The Bishops, Cultural Diversity Drum Circle, TJ Hollingsworth and Chad Mills, stepped up to play.
“It’s been amazing to hear people’s stories about their own Riley connections,” Servos said. “We are always looking for a way to expand services, and this was a way to reach a bigger audience.”
Yarnell agrees: “It’s been fun to work together and create something new.”
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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