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Writing walking song with disabled friend Jenna

March 19, 2009 in Chronic Illness - Disabilities, TSN Therapeutic Projects

Jenna answers questionsJenna is a very sweet 17 year old and a typical teen in every way.  Because of her many illnesses, surgeries and the loss of a younger brother, Jenna has developed a genuine compassion for others. Jenna ended up having scoliosis and while they were correcting the scoliosis, a tumor was dislodged which caused a partial stoke. Jenna is now a partial paraplegic and was told by the doctor that she would never walk again. Jenna has baffled many doctors and medical professionals over her life time which has added to her resolve to walk once more. To encourage this hope we wrote a song sharing her struggles and victories with a pinch of finger wagging in the face of those who might have unknowingly stolen her spark. The lyrics proclaim “I want to walk again, I’m gonna walk again, yes I am I am, well the doctors said I never would, but I am, but I am, but I am”.

**The Writing Process

Jenna has some learning disabilities so we took it slow, I had the chorus idea and showed it to Jenna, she loved it. I asked Jenna to give me some words that would describe her desire to walk, how she feels about being in a wheelchair, what are the difficulties of learning to walk and what has inspired her to keep trying. We took those words and went to the rhyming dictionary and found all the words that would help Jenna tell her story and wrote the lyrics together. I asked Jenna to give me a little melody that was different from the chorus and what we finally came up with was a collaboration of notes, musical ideas, fun times and hopes.

**The Recording Process/Media Project

My son, two young musician friends, guitar player husband and I are waiting for the final mix to be complete. It will be interesting to see how it all falls together. I have been doing some short video clips of Jenna working with her PT, OT, and our recording sessions. I am excited about the finished product, how it will encourage Jenna to keep climbing her mountain and how it might provide inspiration to other young people who have their own set of difficult circumstances.

We have a pipe dream of the Jonas Brothers(Jenna is ga ga over them) singing it at one of their shows and having Jenna and other young people with disabilities part of the production.

Some of the words

When I wear by braces,

I see the look on your faces

When I get up, it’s really tough,

The prize for me, is at the end

So I try and I try and I try again

Stay Tuned: If all works out, it will be available for viewing @ The Singing Nurse YouTube channel.

Anyone have any connections to the Jonas Brothers ?

Jenna’s Story

February 28, 2009 in Chronic Illness - Disabilities, TSN Therapeutic Projects

02/28/2009 (updated in part Jan 2017)

Hope you all have endured the cold winter, I am sooo.. looking forward to the warmer weather. March is one of those iffy months where the temps and conditions outside can be unpredictable. Just to encourage you, the warmer weather is just around the corner.Jenna 12 days of Christmas and walking 014

I have known Jenna for about 14 years (update 18 yrs) and this young lady and her family have endure many set backs. I was Jenna’s nurse when she was 3 years old and she has had health issues all of her life. Jenna was born premature and over time the family discovered Jenna had other issues which have impacked them greatly. I don’t want to let too much out of the bag because I want her tell the story. She is full of faith and I know she will encourage you with her unbelievable zest for life. If you have any comments or would like to ask a question, put Jenna in the subject and send us an email to: TheSingingNurse@gmail.com

(When you listen & watch the “Walking Song Vid” You will find a lot of videos on YouTube where Jenna shares her story. ***Jenna went to be with the Lord in 2013, her family and friends will miss her greatly)

Check out Jenna’s videos @ www.YouTube.com/TheSingingNurse

How we wrote the song? Click below

Writing walking song with disabled friend Jenna

Ms. Dawn, The Singing Nurse

12 Nurse Visits to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas-Healthy Eating

January 5, 2009 in Children's Health Education

01/05/2009 Jenna and I wanted to have some fun with the 12 Days of Christmas. We wanted to write about eating healthy, because Jenna, other Paraplegic and Quadriplegic patients have concerns about being Regular. We laughed until we cried and learned as we were having some fun.

Listen to the end for a 2009 Happy New Year Message.

Have a Happy Healthy New Year! 2009