American Music Therapy Association

Music Therapy & Congresswoman Giffords

Congresswoman Gabby Giffords returned to Houston's TIRR Memorial Herman and was reunited with Board Certified Music Therapist, Maegan Morrow, with a song from "Annie." Her husband, Mark Kelly captured the moment on his phone and it was reported in the New York Daily News.

http://m.nydailynews.com/news/national/gabby-giffords-sings-annie-houston-music-therapist-article-1.2117827#bmb=1

The TIRR Memorial Hermann had the privilege of receiving the "Caring Heart Award" from the Institute for Spirituality and Health in November of last year.  Several members of the TIRR medical team were recognized for the rehabilitation of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Music therapist, Maegan Morrow, the nurse manager and TIRR CEO received the award on the hospital's behalf. At the awards ceremony, Congresswoman Giffords was invited to give a speech and discuss some of her new goals and advocacy efforts with her husband Mark Kelly.  What Morrow said from the podium to Gabby and Mark was a sentiment from the entire team: her healing process brought attention and awareness to the world of Traumatic Brain Injury.  Also, that helping Gabby regain her voice, in return, gave Music Therapy a voice. Her recovery gave the world a powerful glimpse into the important contributions of music therapy treatment in medical settings.

Congresswoman Giffords, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in January of 2011, was able to regain her speech in part due to the music therapy services she received at TIRR from MT-BC, Maegan Morrow, along with the co-treatment of many speech-language pathologists.

You can see a short video of Gabby Giffords and Maegan Morrow singing together during a recent visit to TIRR on Giffords’ Facebook page.

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