"The Magic Brook" Once upon a time, in a magical forest, there was a brook that held extraordinary powers. This brook was not like any ordinary stream; it possessed the ability to grant wishes to anyone who drank its enchanted water. The stories of its magic had traveled far and wide, and people from all walks of life arrived at the brook in hopes of having their deepest desires fulfilled. Legend had it that the brook's magical qualities were bestowed upon it by a kind fairy who lived nearby. She had a heart full of compassion and wanted to bring joy and happiness to the world. The fairy had sprinkled her magic dust into the water, creating a powerful elixir that could turn dreams into reality.
The program is offered by MagicAid, a non-profit organization co-founded by Harrison Pravder, a fourth-year medical student at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. The program is run at Stony Brook Children’s under the guidance of professionals in the Child Life Program, who are responsible for identifying the children who they feel would benefit from the therapy.
The tricks are simple, classic ones coins and balls appear and disappear, the Magic Therapist accurately reads the subject s mind, individual red, white and blue silk handkerchiefs transform into an American flag, among others. Since then, MagicAid has taken off and it has been my pleasure to serve as the most recent Co-President of the student group along with Hannah Lee Renaissance School of Medicine, Class of 2020 and also as Vice President of the MagicAid non-profit organization.
The fairy had sprinkled her magic dust into the water, creating a powerful elixir that could turn dreams into reality. As visitors approached, the brook greeted them with a melodious tune, almost as if it were calling out to their hearts. The water was crystal clear and shimmered in the sunlight, displaying a dazzling array of colors.
Magic Therapy Works
Experiencing stress and fear is common among hospitalized pediatric patients. A new study of these patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital reveals that MagicAid magic therapy, an interactive therapy involving magic tricks and magic sessions, helps to significantly reduce both patient and parent/caregiver anxiety by about 25 percent. The findings, to be published in Hospital Pediatrics, suggest that a magic therapy program for pediatric inpatient care may have great value to hospitalized patients and their caregivers, and should be considered to be implemented in this setting.
The magic is performed by first- and second-year medical students, called Magic Therapists, at each patient’s bedside. The tricks are simple, classic ones: coins and balls appear and disappear, the Magic Therapist accurately “reads” the subject’s mind, individual red, white and blue silk handkerchiefs transform into an American flag, among others.
To help put young patients and their family members at ease, the Magic Therapists swap their traditional white coats for MagicAid t-shirts. They also incorporate everyday items, such as rubber bands and pocket change, into their routines. The therapists visit the children three times a week and are able to see between five and 10 patients over the course of an hour.
The program is offered by MagicAid, a non-profit organization co-founded by Harrison Pravder, a fourth-year medical student at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. The program is run at Stony Brook Children’s under the guidance of professionals in the Child Life Program, who are responsible for identifying the children who they feel would benefit from the therapy.
“It is important to develop tools to facilitate coping and encourage distraction for patients due to anxieties associated with hospitalization,” said Pravder, who plans to specialize in pediatric anesthesiology. “Anxiety often arises due to loss of self-determination and separation from home and family in patients, while, for parents, stress is often related to their child’s hospitalization and other concerns such as financial costs, and this stress can translate back to the child.”
Pravder and his colleagues found a majority of patients and parents to be receptive to magic therapy and willing to participate. They evaluated 100 inpatients, ages 5 to 16 years, and 90 caregivers at Stony Brook Children’s. Patient-caregiver pairs were randomly assigned to a magic therapy intervention group or control group. The magic therapy included a session of watching and engaging in magic, learning how to perform a magic trick, and receiving a magic prop to practice in order to perform for others.
Anxiety was measured before and after the magic interventions by using validated self-report tools. These included a facial image scale and the Venham Picture Test for younger patients and, for older children, a pictorial scale and a written scale signifying anxiety levels. Caregivers’ anxiety levels were evaluated using only the written linear scale, called the short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
After analyzing the results, they found that the patient magic group’s standard anxiety was reduced by 25 percent after the magic therapy, and the caregiver magic group’s anxiety was reduced by 24 percent.
Part of the study included a questionnaire for health professionals designed to assess the usefulness of magic reducing anxiety and the feasibility of such a program in a healthcare setting. Based on the results of 37 physicians and nurses surveyed at Stony Brook on the topic, 98 percent recommended continuance of the program, 97 percent reported that the student magicians were not a disturbance in the healthcare setting, 81 percent reported that the activity is helpful to the child and 57 percent reported it as helpful to parents.
The magic is performed by first- and second-year medical students, called Magic Therapists, at each patient’s bedside. The tricks are simple, classic ones: coins and balls appear and disappear, the Magic Therapist accurately “reads” the subject’s mind, individual red, white and blue silk handkerchiefs transform into an American flag, among others.
It had a mesmerizing effect on all who encountered it. People would scoop the sparkling water into their hands, feeling a tingling sensation as if the magic was already coursing through their veins. They would close their eyes and make a wish, silently uttering their deepest desires. Some wished for wealth and prosperity, while others yearned for love and happiness. The brook, with its unwavering magic, had the power to grant all of these wishes. However, the brook was also wise and had a way of discerning the true desires of each individual. It knew that material wealth alone wouldn't bring lasting satisfaction or the fulfillment of one's soul. It could sense the purity of intentions and was more inclined to grant wishes that were selfless and brought joy not only to the wisher but also to others. Some wished for the infinite happiness of their loved ones, asked for good health for the sick, or wished for peace and harmony in the world. The brook recognized the power of these wishes and responded with unwavering benevolence, bringing about magical transformations in the lives of those who came seeking its enchantment. As word of the brook's magic spread, people from all corners of the world flocked to its banks, creating a vibrant community bonded by hope and dreams. They shared their stories, supported each other's aspirations, and celebrated their successes. Through the power of the brook's magic, they found unity and purpose. In the presence of the brook, people became inspired to live their lives to the fullest. They realized that true magic lies within their hearts and that the brook was merely a catalyst for their innermost desires to manifest. The brook had the power to awaken the dormant dreams and ambitions that lay within each person. In this magical forest, visitors not only had their wishes granted but also learned valuable lessons about the true nature of happiness and fulfillment. They discovered that the journey towards their desires was just as important as the final outcome and that the power to make magic happen was within their own hands. And so, the legend of the magic brook continued to enchant and inspire generations to come, reminding them that the magic of life lies in their ability to dream, believe, and take action..
Reviews for "The Magic Brook and its Impact on the Local Community"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars: I found "The Magic Brook" to be extremely dull and uninteresting. The plot was predictable and lacked any sort of depth or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with any of them. The writing style was also lackluster and failed to engage me as a reader. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 stars: "The Magic Brook" had an intriguing concept, but it fell short in execution. The story lacked proper pacing and often felt rushed. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the narrative. Additionally, the world-building was weak, leaving many aspects unexplained. While I appreciated the potential of the idea behind the book, I ultimately found it to be underwhelming and unsatisfying.
3. Alex Johnson - 2/5 stars: Unfortunately, I found "The Magic Brook" to be a disappointing read. The story was predictable, and I could see the twists coming from a mile away. The characters were forgettable and lacked development, making it hard to care about their fate. The writing style was also bland and lacked any real emotion or descriptive power. Overall, this book failed to captivate my attention, and I was left feeling unimpressed.
4. Emily Baker - 3/5 stars: While "The Magic Brook" had its moments, I overall found it to be a mediocre read. The plot had potential but was overshadowed by disjointed pacing and a lack of focus. The characters were interesting on the surface, but their motivations and actions often felt inconsistent. The writing style was adequate, but I wished for more depth and complexity. While not a terrible book, I expected more from "The Magic Brook" and was left wanting.
5. Michael Thompson - 2/5 stars: I struggled to connect with "The Magic Brook" right from the start. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The characters were poorly developed, with their decisions and actions often coming across as illogical. The writing style was simplistic and lacked the needed depth to bring the story to life. Overall, I found this book to be a weak attempt at storytelling, and I would not recommend it to others.