For nearly 20 years, Cheyenne Asher has been bringing her son, Ivan, to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
She recalls watching the build-out of Seacrest Studios on the second floor of the hospital and wondering if Ivan would benefit from the activities that the teams envisioned for the space.
“I thought this would be such an amazing thing for patients and families to have a whole new experience,” recalled Asher, who like many families frequently spent a lot of time at the hospital.
Cupcakes, facepaint and disco balls for Seacrest Studios
“It gives the family and the patient a break from everything that they are going through, and they get to do fun things. They get to escape the reality of the sickness, the illness they’re going through. They get to find joy. They get to feel loved. They get to feel included, because they find a way to include every person who walks through those studio doors.”
And for the Ashers, Seacrest Studios proved to be life-changing.
Opportunities at the interactive studio helped Ivan,19, find his voice. Using EyeGaze technology, an eye-driven communication device, Ivan asks questions, shares his mood and even creates art, something Asher never thought possible.
Ivan, who is nonverbal and nonmobile, was born with Dandy-Walker syndrome. His brain didn’t fully develop in the womb. He also has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and muscle coordination, and he suffers from seizures and has many complex care needs.
“Ivan loves music. It’s one of his biggest things in life,” Asher said. “He also loves interviewing studio guests. Just being in there would change everything about his demeanor and being in the hospital. When the studio was built, the magic happened.”
The Ashers are one of thousands of patients and families whose lives have been enhanced by the studio’s presence.
Now in its 10th year of programming, the studio complements the work of medical teams by providing patients and families with a fun, creative place to host shows, play games and interview special guests.
According to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF), Seacrest Studios are built specifically for children, giving them a sense of control in an environment where so much is out of their hands. By fostering a children’s creator network, RSF ensures that every patient has the opportunity to share their voice and create lasting, positive memories beyond their medical journey.
“The studio is a haven for fun, connection, music, laughter and stories,” said Gretchen McCullough, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer for Monroe Carell. “For a decade, children have been able to escape to the studio either in person or from their rooms if their condition does not permit them to travel. They have gotten to laugh and engage with musicians, artists, animal guests and athletes who give so generously to our kids.
“In the studio is a place that reminds us of the very best parts of childhood and serves all who enter with the best medicines there are: laughter and joy,” added McCullough.
In 2016 Monroe Carell partnered with RSF to open the state-of-the-art multimedia broadcast studio, making it the 10th studio to open inside a pediatric hospital in the United States. It continues to serve as one of the busiest among the 14 studios nationwide.
“It is an honor to celebrate 10 years with Monroe Carell,” said Meredith Seacrest Leach, CEO and executive director of RSF. “Together we have grown as partners with a shared passion for giving patients and families a fun, supportive and meaningful experience during difficult times. Our foundation continues to be driven by the joy that this work brings to patients, and we look forward to many more years of supporting our Nashville studio in their discovery of the wonders of content creation.”
“Follow the Call of the Disco Ball” was the theme of the celebration to mark the studio moving into double digits.
Mamie Shepherd has been at the helm of programming since the studio’s doors opened in 2016.
“We are celebrating a decade of innovative programming that has merged medicine with entertainment while incorporating as many therapeutic layers as we can,” said Shepherd, senior studio program manager.
“This space is magical — it is inclusive, comforting, inspiring and just plain fun! We are so thankful for the community that rallies to support the studio, its programs, and our patients and families every day,” she said.
A video showcasing the studio’s decade of serving patients and families is here. Click here for birthday pictures and a photo montage of the past 10 years.
The 723-square-foot glass-encased studio has been an attraction for all who pass.
The space isn’t just for patient interaction. Siblings are attracted to the events held at Seacrest Studios as well.
Camdyn Cole, 14, grew fond of the studio’s offerings from the daily FaceTime calls she and her brother Grant, 9, shared during his stay at Monroe Carell waiting for a heart transplant.
Whenever she visited in person, she would check out the display announcing each day’s activities before proceeding to her brother’s hospital room.
She still recalls her first time being in the studio a few years ago: “It was a Halloween thing, and they invited me to come in and sing,” she said. “They had some instruments, and we were just playing around with them, and I had a really good time.
“It was really fun and just a distraction from whatever Grant had going on at the time. It seemed like it made him really happy just getting to have an escape from stuff. It was the first thing he’d mention most of the time (on our calls) because it was the highlight of his day.
“It’s like a safe space, I guess for everybody,” added Camdyn. “It was for me and him.”
