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Wilmington Health benefit for the NHRMC Mobile Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

November 01, 2009

  

Edwin McCain teams up with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra November 7, 2009.


  
HEART AND SOUL: Suzie and Damian Brezinski pose with Edwin McCain (center), who will be performing in Wilmington to benefit the mobile pediatric intensive care unit at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

    On Saturday, November 7th singer-songwriter Edwin McCain will partner with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra in what promises to be a truly exceptional concert. Even those who don't recognize the name "Edwin McCain" will find themselves singing along to his most famous song "I'll Be," dubbed the number-one wedding song by Dr. Phil. (Come on, who doesn't know that song: "I'll be your crying shoulder…") Even better, all proceeds raised will benefit the much-needed mobile pediatric intensive care unit at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

"I'm going to play music from seven records, and we'll bring the symphony out, [which is] kind of a special occasion," McCain explains. As if his songs and lyrics don't tug at the heart strings enough, the accompaniment of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra's beautiful strings and catchy percussion only guarantee to make the concert that much more powerful. "We decided to get a lot of our music scored for symphony because there were lots of symphonies around the country looking for alternative programming," McCain ellaborates.

Yet, this innovative collaboration isn't just a pit stop on Edwin McCain's tour, it's a charity event to help Wilmington finally raise enough money to buy a mobile pediatric intensive care unit (ICU)), a specialized ambulance designed to transport children. The idea for the event stemmed from a conversation between Edwin McCain, Dr. Damian Brezinski, Mayor Bill Saffo and a case of Red Bull at about 2 o'clock in the morning after last February's Heart Ball charity event.

"During the evening I mentioned to Edwin how much I enjoyed his music, and it would be neat to incorporate his music with our local symphony orchestra," Mayor Saffo recalls. "He thought that would be a great idea and an interesting concept, and Dr. Brezinski looked at it as an opportunity to raise funds for this worthy cause. And so, a great idea was born."

The decision as to which worthy cause the event would raise money for has mostly to do with the experience of cardiologist and chairman of cardiology for Wilmington's Health Associates, Dr. Brezinski, who says, "There's enormous need in this community for a mobile ICU." Dr. Brezinski explained that a pediatric mobile ICU would serve two functions: 1) to safely transfer sick children in our local community to other locations, for example the burn unit at Chapel Hill or the pediatric cardiac unit at Duke; and 2) take in and treat sick children from neighboring rural towns like Little River or Lumberton.

While McCain stays involved in children's causes, working with the developmentally challenged at the Myers Center in Greenville, he was particularly inspired to help this cause after touring the Betty H. Cameron Women's and Children's Hospital in August. "I'll tell you, after touring the facility I would say Wilmington's got one of the finest children's hospital in the country," he says. "The doctors are absolutely passionate, and it really shows. I've grown up around pediatrics—my father's a pediatrician—and to see the level of commitment and passion that the doctors in Wilmington have is inspiring."

During his visit in August, McCain preformed a private concert for the children and made a $5,000 donation to the cause. "This unit is going to save a lot of lives, and it's an incredible thing that the community can rally around," McCain believes.

According to Dr. Brezinski, "The community has come in troves for this event. There had been a pressing need for a mobile pediatric intensive care unit in this community for a good time. It's just that the price tag was way too much for any charity to hope to touch. The community really came together for this one, and low and behold we are very, very close to our goal of $250,000 to be able to purchase the mobile ICU." Get involved in the community cause November 7th at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium by checking out Edwin McCain and symphony in concert.

By: Tess Malijenovsky - October 27th, 2009-Encore Magazine

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