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Poetry By Texas Children’s Hospital Renal Center Patients Showcased At Houston Boychoir’s 46th Annual Spring Concert

Houston Boychoir brought patient poetry to the stage in a live concert performance, “Ode to My Nurses”

HOUSTON, Texas – (May 20, 2009) – Poetry written by young patients of the Texas Children’s Hospital Renal Center was honored on May 17 by the Houston Boychoir at their 46th annual Spring Concert, “Ode to My Nurses.” More than 500 people gathered to enjoy the live performance at Moores Opera House.

Four poems by patients who are dependent upon life-sustaining dialysis came to life on stage in a live vocal performance by Houston Boychoir, set to original scores written by well-known Houston composers Brad Sayles, Dan Sedgwick and Robert Nelson.

Houston Boychoir Spring Concert

Children who are renal patients can spend more than 700 hours per year receiving life-sustaining dialysis treatments. Texas Children’s Hospital provides patients undergoing treatment with a wide variety of creative activities for therapeutic, educational and recreational purposes. “Ode to My Nurses” was a collaborative art and health project between Texas Children’s Renal Center and the Houston Boychoir, which aimed to create awareness about renal (kidney) diseases and conditions.

“Texas Children’s is committed to providing our patients with innovative and unique programs that instill confidence and help promote healing,” said Helen Currier, director of renal and pheresis at Texas Children’s Hospital. “Arts in healthcare transforms the healthcare experience for patients, families and caregivers and connects millions of people with the power of the arts at key moments in their lives.” The partnership with Houston Boychoir was especially meaningful because it allowed patients to hear their creative writing expressed in song, added Currier.

The concert’s featured poetry was a powerful, moving – and sometimes humorous – musical expression of the emotions and experiences of long-term Texas Children’s Renal Center patients. “Ode to My Nurses” articulated for the audience the perspectives, journeys and coping methods of children living with renal disease. This project merged the artistic excellence of patients’ writing and the voices of the Houston Boychoir.

“Three years ago, the Houston Boychoir participated in a summer camp for patients at Texas Children’s Renal Center with end-stage renal disease, and were greatly impacted by their experience,” said Carole Nelson, executive director, Houston Boychoir. “This project was the first of its kind for Texas Children’s Hospital and Boychoir, and we are honored to have presented the works of these renal patients in a way that was so powerful to so many people.”

Corresponding to Texas Children’s Hospital’s philosophy of treating the whole child, the healing arts are an important part of a patients overall treatment. Texas Children’s Hospital Renal Center patients and the Houston Boychoir partnered together to create art that is a metaphor for the healing that happens at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Recordings of the live performance can be purchased at www.houstonboychoir.com.

About Texas Children’s Hospital Renal Center
Texas Children’s Hospital Renal Center provides diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of infants, children and adolescents with renal conditions, such as urinary tract infections, congenital renal disorders, hereditary renal disease, nephritis, renal tubular diseases, nephrotic syndrome and cystic diseases, as well as for patients with proteinuria and hematuria. The center also manages patients with hypertension and includes a dialysis unit. Patients are seen by self- or physician referral. For more information, visit http://www.texaschildrens.org/carecenters/Renal/Default.aspx.

Texas Children’s Hospital is among the largest pediatric hospitals in the country and is dedicated to serving children and families through excellence in patient care, education and research. The hospital’s new West Campus development is made possible in large part through the generous support of corporations and families in the local community who are committed to improving the health and well-being of its children.

About Texas Children’s Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a neurological research institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on high-risk births and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information on Texas Children's Hospital, visit www.texaschildrens.org.