The Gift of Music 

Magical things just seem to happen. Most of the time they happen when you least expect them, almost never when you are looking for them. They just happen.  If you were at either of the Craig Chaquico appearances in Sacramento on Saturday, June 3rd, you know exactly what I mean.

Craig’s first appearance that day was at the UC Davis Children’s Hospital, where the “Festival of Miracles” (a reunion of the hospital’s pediatric patients) was taking place. Craig was in town to perform at a benefit concert for Ronald McDonald House Charities that evening, and the chance to perform at the children’s hospital event was a welcome opportunity. Helping children’s causes is important to Craig Chaquico. He knows firsthand what it’s like for a kid to spend part of his or her childhood in the hospital.

At the age of twelve, Craig Chaquico’s young world came crashing down, literally, when he and his father were in a serious automobile accident involving a drunk driver. He suffered two broken arms and a broken leg. Through music, Craig found a way to cope,’ in fact thrive, through the ensuing wheelchairs, therapy and corrective shoes.

Four years later, Craig Chaquico embarked on a 20-year career as lead guitarist for one of the world’s best known rock bands of the 70s and 80s, the Jefferson Starship. He turned his talents to smooth jazz in the early 90s when his wife, Kimberly, became pregnant with their son. His latest recording, Panorama, is topping the smooth jazz charts, but he hasn’t let all of his success go to his head.  His dedication to sick and injured children continues to this day, and he makes it a point to visit as many hospitals as possible while on tour (usually leaving one of his guitars as a gift!).

Craig took the main stage at the Festival of Miracles at 10:00 a.m. He entertained the families with several of his songs, and spoke of the role that music played in his life. The highlight of the morning came when he presented a beautifully sleek Carvin acoustic guitar (the same kind he plays) to the hospital’s music therapy program, and a set of Pacific Drums, donated by Drum Workshop, Inc., to a 10-year old Leukemia patient named Skyler Edwards. Skyler’s story, like Craig’s, is an inspiring one.

In early October of last year, Skyler and his family were making plans for the approaching holiday season. Skyler’s favorite holiday, Halloween, was just around the corner, and he was eagerly awaiting the chance to go trick-or-treating with his brothers, sisters and cousins. When the time came, however, Skyler opted to stay home. He had contracted an ear infection earlier in the week and explained to his mom & dad that he wasn’t feeling well. His parents, Ralph and Terri Colborn of Linden, California, took note. Skyler was prone to ear infections, but this one seemed to last a bit longer than usual.

In mid-November, he came down with another fever, and his mom took him back to the doctor. Strangely, by the time they arrived his fever had disappeared, and the doctor detected nothing unusual. Skyler was sent home to rest. The fever  returned that night, however, prompting yet another visit to the doctor. It was the week of Thanksgiving, and the physician suggested that they wait until after the Holiday to see if Skyler’s fever would simply run its course. Though he was still sick, Skyler insisted that he felt well enough to make the trip to Lodi for Thanksgiving with his maternal grandparents, “Papa” and “Grammie.” His determination was fierce. His health, however, would continue to deteriorate.

On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, Skyler came down with a fever of 103.9°. By the time Terrie and Ralph arrived at Lodi’s emergency room, Skyler’s fever had spiked to an alarming 105°. Within hours, Skyler was on his way by ambulance to UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento.y 2:00 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, the Lodi ER doctor’s suspicions were confirmed: Skyler had Leukemia.

Ralph and Terri Colborn checked into Ronald McDonald House that day.  During the next 37 days, they watched helplessly as Skyler fought for his life. The chemotherapy made him desperately ill and he battled recurrent fever, infection and weakness. He was unable to eat, and endured two bone marrow aspirations.

After several weeks, Skyler’s doctors believed that they were winning the war on his illness. Skyler’s family hoped he would be released before the New Year, but on Christmas Eve, Skyler was still weak from the treatments. Ralph Colborn promised Skyler “massive quantities of fireworks” on New Year’s Eve if Skyler would eat and get strong enough to go home. Ralph Colborn explains that on Christmas morning, Skyler awoke “bright eyed and bushy tailed,” and his recovery progressed rapidly from there. As his strength increased, so did his interest in music therapy.

Skyler, often joined by his siblings, spent hours playing the hospital’s musical instruments. According to Kathy Lorenzado, Music Therapist at UCD, Skyler was “a natural” on the drums. By New Year’s Day, Skyler was ready to go home.

Skyler’s road to recovery continued after his release from the hospital, but it was not easy. He had two more bone aspirations and suffered a setback after a cut on his finger became badly infected. He continued to fight on, however, and he  wouldn’t give up his dreams of becoming a drummer. He was discharged from his last hospital stay on the morning of June 3rd, just in time for the Festival of Miracles. Just in time to claim his brand new set of star-quality drums.

The June 3rd concert was a huge success. Up-and-coming musician Steve Oliver opened the show. Emcees Lynda Clayton and Ken Jones (from Sacramento’s “Smooth Jazz” radio station 94.7 KSSJ) invited me to speak on behalf of RMHC, and it was the perfect opportunity to extend our gratitude to everyone who had made the day’s activities possible. I was describing for the crowd the events of the morning when I spotted Skyler Edwards. He was sitting front and center with his family, looking as if life held nothing but possibility. On impulse, I said, “Skyler, buddy, stand up!” and, with the enthusiastic help of his family, Skyler climbed onto his chair. The crowd erupted into a standing ovation that seemed to last for endless minutes. Skyler captured the audience’s collective heart by his courage and his shy smile.

By the time Craig Chaquico took the stage, he was already a hero. During his show, Craig, too, caught eyes with Skyler, and another ovation occurred when Craig pointed him out. Skyler walked onto the stage and enthusiastically accepted a set of drumsticks from Christian Poezach, Steve Oliver’s drummer. He then joined Craig’s band for the encore performance, and Skyler Edwards hit those drums as if he was born to.

So many magical things happened on that Saturday. Skyler’s mom describes that day as “truly the celebration of a very brave and well fought battle.” Skyler is in remission, and his prognosis continues to be very good. Family members have helped him accessorize his drum set, and he practices faithfully.

O.K. So maybe magical things don’t just happen. Perhaps they happen when people deliberately work to make them happen... not for selfish gain, but for the unadulterated joy that results when people give from their hearts without expecting anything in return.

Ronald McDonald House Chanties would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the following for making the event of June 3rd, 2000 possible: Don Lombardi and Deanna Dunn of Drum Workshop, Inc., Jack’s House of Music, Carvin Corporation, The Radisson Hotel, Connie McKinley, Lynda Clayton, Ken Jones and everyone at Smooth Jazz 94.7 KSSJ, Norine Okano/Okano Productions, Steve & Gisela Oliver, Steven Hellon Photography, Karen Charney, Theresa Brown, Kathy Lorenzado and the Music Therapy Dept.of UC Davis Medical Center, and of course, Craig Chaquico, Duane Hayes, Ralph and Terrle Colborn, Skyler and his entire family.