Emily and Zachary interview Dana Swan Child Life Specialist
March 17, 2014
Hosted by Emily Freeman and Zack Tavlin
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Episode Description
Emily and Zachary interview Dana Swan, Child Life Specialist, who helps patients at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers by reducing the stress and anxiety that many children and adolescents experience in hospital and healthcare settings. Learn about a day in the life of a Child Life Specialist and the power of the universal language of play. And as always, enjoy the music of the children from Purple Songs Can Fly!
Purple Songs Can Fly
Monday at 3 PM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Kids Channel
Purple Songs Can Fly is a unique program that provides a musical outlet for the many children being treated for cancer and blood disorders at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. In this program, which is the first of its kind, the children work with founder, Anita Kruse and other professional composers to write and record their own songs. In an in-house studio, composers work with the children and their siblings to write, record, and burn songs to disc within short sessions.
As patients in the Cancer Center, Zachary and Emily have written many songs with Purple Songs Can Fly and have inspiring perspectives on life that will touch your heart. Enjoy interviews with doctors, nurses, friends, family, special guests, and the many children who have written songs during their treatment.
Be sure to tune in for Purple Songs Can Fly every Monday at 3 PM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Kids Channel.
Emily Freeman and Zack Tavlin
Emily is a 17 year old high school Junior who loves all things pertaining to performance, purple, and her pet pug, Moochie. Prior to diagnosis with a rare cancerous brain tumor in June of 2009, she led an active life as an accomplished ballerina. She took ballet from the age of four, and, in 2006, auditioned for the role of Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes. After landing the role in Houston in 2006, she went on to a repeat performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 2007. Due to vision loss from the tumor, short term memory loss, and other damaging endocrine effects from treatment, she is hanging up her ballet shoes for now.
However, as providence would have it, one day while waiting for an appointment at Texas Children's Hospital, she met Aaron who worked with Purple Songs Can Fly, and helped her record her very first song. This chance meeting opened a door to work with Purple Songs, a perfect match for Emily, which has given her a much needed outlet to sing, perform, and continue to touch the lives of others with her exuberant zest for life. She is beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to learn radio and reach a brand new audience through Voice America Kids!
Zack Tavlin began with "Purple Songs Can Fly" back in 2006. His illness and the beginning of Purple Songs Can Fly almost directly coincide. Through this organization, he has had the opportunity to write songs for prominent heart surgeons, astronauts, musicians and even popular athletes! He continues to write and record songs, both to spread his love of Purple Songs Can Fly and to express his heartfelt joy for each day he is blessed to be alive. Zack is extremely excited to be on the radio and looks forward to interviewing many interesting people.
