girl scouts of the colonial coastGirl Scout Ambassador Abby earned the Gold Award, by completing her project she titled, “Musical Therapy Stress Relief.” After her grandmother had to have a stay in the hospital, Abby learned about the stress and anxieties that patients sometimes experience during their visit due to being away from home. Abby knew she could help and used her passion for music to make a difference!
“Being in the hospital, facing injury, and recovering from surgery is a stressful time in a person's life,” Abby said. “There are a lot of different uncertainties and outcomes that can occur and this causes stress among patients. The stress can slow the healing process, make their stay longer, only adding onto the stress that is already occurring.”
Abby worked with Warwick Forest Rehabilitation Center in Newport News, VA to understand the needs of patients and to figure out how she could help. She developed a self-paced learning program to learn to play the kalimba, a small handheld musical instrument known for making relaxing tones.
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| A kalimba |
Her program also provides a way for patients to connect with one another while they practice together and learn how to play the instrument. Forest Rehabilitation continues to use music therapy as an element of their healing process and Abby’s self-paced curriculum gives patients control over their instrument and how fast they learn.
“Because I provided the resources, the Warwick Forest continues to utilize music therapy in their rehabilitative care activities,” Abby said.
Abby used proceeds earned from participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program to fund her project.
Congratulations, Abby!
