Singing at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
I was given the amazing opportunity to sing some Christmas songs and spread a little holiday cheer at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital this past weekend. I have to say right up front it was a very humbling experience. I mean you first walk in and are surrounded by all these crazy tattooed long haired guys with biker vests and steam punk hats and glasses on… Soulicide, Lipstick Killers, Riverdown… you know the kind of guys you would say “boy I wouldn’t want to see that guy in a dark alley”. Then you start talking with them and see that they are some of the most caring individuals that not only give of their time but also the hearts and lives for this wonderful cause. We sit down to a quick “whatever you can buy at the snack shop” breakfast and then head to the room for a quick impromptu “rehearsal”….
Now this is a room filled with professional musicians.. I mean we all gig at the very least once a week some of us almost every night… and boy you realize quick no one seems to sing the same words to Christmas songs! Lets just say ole Frosty had “a corn hole coat and two eyes gave up to old Saint Nick”… or something like that. But none the less no matter what words were sang the heart and love was there for each and everyone of those kids and their families.
After our first concert we took our show on the road…. up to the second, third, and fourth floor that is… This gave for an even more interesting time due to the fact that there were no more cheat sheets for chords while I was playing guitar… there were 2 of us armed with acoustic guitars and I can remember one moment where the singer looked in our directions and said “take it guitars” our response was “…..really?…” But in the same fashion as the rest of this misfit caroling group of ruffians we gave all the heart and soul we could for those wonderful kids.
As we descended back down to the main floor of the hospital some cried, all hugged, I took selfies with some local celebrities and we all discussed some plans for lunch. You forget sometimes that in our busy lives, not all have the luxury of being busy with what we would call “normal life”. Some are busy fighting sickness and disease that try to take life from them. Some are dealing with cards that don’t seem fair to be dealt to anyone, especially a four year old child.
The wonderful hearts and lives that are at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital need our help year round. It has been a wonderful opportunity and humbling experience to be a part of such an incredible moment. I look forward to helping many more times in the future. Not just at Christmas but as much as I can.
Thank you to all who were there and who gave me the opportunity to join the team!
~Lane Braden
Guitar Raffle Success!
So the boys of FODCountry, myself, and some of our wonderful fans got together last year and decided to take this guitar around and beg plead and BEG for autographs from major entertainers in the music industry so that we could raffle off the guitar to donate the funds to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Boy was it a success! After countless hours, blood, sweat, tears, and probably a few choice words later it is finally all finished! We Rasied $1,511 Dollars for Kids! Thank you for all who were a part of such an amazing experience, and congratulations to the winner!
