Why We Give: Children’s Minnesota

Why We Give: Children’s Minnesota By KSTP Why We Give: Children’s Minnesota KSTP is excited to present our annual #whywegive initiative. KSTP supports a variety of charities throughout the year by running Public Service Announcements and airing the amazing stories demonstrating the impact that these organizations have in our community. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS supports Children’s Minnesota , which boasts a music therapy program for babies that families say feels irreplaceable. As anchor Paul Folger explains, families with children needing hospital care can use a music therapy program that has been around for years. Ben has been in the NICU since he was born 14 weeks ago at just 25 weeks and 5 days — very, very early. As he grows, he’s learning sights and sounds as part of development. Music therapist Daniela Schmiedlechner described the program as clinical care led by a trained professional. “Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions led by a credentialed professional,” Schmiedlechner said. Ben’s parents said they saw a response when he first heard the sessions. “The first time he heard music and the way he like riveted in on Daniela and her guitar, he was just — it was like suddenly he had something that he liked,” Ben’s mother, Margo, said. Kyle, his father, added, “Daniela would point out, look, you can see his heart rate dropping, and so you can not only see it in his face, but you can actually see it in the monitors.” Ben is doing well with help from his doctors and music therapists, but the music therapy program relies totally on donations from viewers like you. “It relaxes him, makes him more calm. It gives him developmental stimuli, and it makes us feel like a normal family,” Margo said of the program. Margo and Kyle say they cannot wait to get Ben home. That’s why we give. What’s your cause?