A New Friendship
Written by rockSTAR Kaelyn and Adri
Hi MCP Blog Readers,
Hi, I’m rockSTAR Kaelyn and this is my friend, and fellow rockSTAR Adri! We are here to share the story of how we became friends through the Melodic Caring Project. Our story is just one example of how MCP has the power to form a community between rockSTARS and create long-lasting friendships through music!
Kaelyn: To begin, I’ve been a rockSTAR with MCP since April of 2017. I was 17 years old when I experienced my first virtual concert with the band Bailen and the band Joseph. That concert forever changed my life, and was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced. Because of the impact of that concert, I knew I wanted to continue sharing so other people could experience MCP, too! Fast forward a few years…I am now an ambassador for the Melodic Caring Project! That’s just the beginning of how I met Adri!
“Kaelyn and I have been inseparable since. We talk on the phone almost every day and keep each other company while symptoms bombard our bodies and doctors appointments clutter our lives.”
rockSTAR Kaelyn
rockSTAR Adri
Adri: Hey guys, this is rockSTAR Adri here! Unlike Kaelyn, I have only been involved with MCP for a few months, and here’s how I discovered a program that is changing my life.
To start, let’s go back to 2020, where I read about MCP on another rockSTAR’s instagram post. Curious, I checked out the website and that’s where it ended. I thought that I was too old. (*insert frowning face here*) Fast forward 2 years and I would soon discover that that was a lie. For no reason other than curiosity, I looked at the MCP website again; wishing that I had discovered this awesome program when I first got sick as a minor. At 19 years old, feeling like I had missed my chance, I was ready to shut my computer and forget about MCP forever… until I saw Kaelyn’s rockSTAR story. My jaw hit the floor as I realized that rockSTAR Kaelyn was OLDER than me! Not only was she older than me, she was also super cool, and I wished I could meet her. I felt silly thinking that because her rockSTAR story was filmed nearly 2 years prior and she was just some person online. Pushing that thought aside, I then saw that MCP had expanded its reach to patients of all ages!I signed up to be a rockSTAR later that day.
Kaelyn: At the same time that the above was happening with Adri, I came across a comment that she posted on another rockSTAR’s Instagram page, and I felt like I needed to reach out to her and ask her if she would like to be part of the Melodic Caring Project. At this point, some of my health issues got worse rather quickly, so I had to put off reaching out to her for a few days.
Adri: Several weeks after I signed up to be a rockSTAR, I received an email with a virtual invite to the annual MCP Gala. I was SO excited. Then, around the same time, guess who randomly followed me on Instagram?! The SAME Kaelyn from the rockSTAR story I had watched! I didn’t even know she had instagram at this point. I could hardly believe it. What a coincidence!
Kaelyn: Fast forward a couple of days…it was Gala Day! My excitement was off the charts! Since I was following Adri on Instagram at this point, I saw that she posted how excited she was to virtually attend the gala a few hours later. When I saw that, I was shocked, because I hadn’t reached out to her yet, but had planned to very soon, so how had she found out about MCP?!
I messaged Adri at this point, and the rest is history!
Adri: Kaelyn and I have been inseparable since. We talk on the phone almost every day and keep each other company while symptoms bombard our bodies and doctors appointments clutter our lives.
It is crazy to think that even if I hadn’t signed myself up, I still would have become a rockSTAR because of Kaelyn. I am beyond thankful to not only have this amazing organization in my life, but also the sweetest of friends. With completely different diagnoses, sometimes the most unlikely friendships are the most special.
Kaelyn and Adri: It’s often hard to find friends who understand what it is like to live with disability and illness firsthand, and we are so grateful to MCP for connecting us. Not only does MCP make music more accessible; it also opens the door for community and long lasting friendships, and that is exactly how our friendship was formed. Thank you MCP!
– rockSTARS Kaelyn & Adri
About Kaelyn.
Kaelyn experienced her first concert through MCP more than five years ago. Since then, she’s grown passionate about the Melodic Caring Project’s mission, and Kaelyn looks forward to spreading the word about MCP as a rockSTAR Ambassador!
As a rockSTAR Ambassador, Kaelyn is evangelizing our mission to help more rockSTARS battling illness like herself learn about MCP to receive support, love and music through our programs.
About Adri.
RockSTAR Ambassador Adri has a passion for helping others who, like her, live with illness and disability. Adri has been battling her health since she was 12 years old, but she is determined to not let that stop her. She is partnered with MCP through Kindness Crates– a care package program she started to support older children and teens also battling illness.
Adri has a big appreciation for music, and she is excited to be a part of our MCP family and team!
As a rockSTAR Ambassador, Adri is evangelizing our mission to help more rockSTARS battling illness like herself learn about MCP to receive support, love and music through our programs.
