Sean McCarthy didn't expect to be fighting tears his very first day as a volunteer for OHM (Open Heart Magic). As one of more than 60 volunteer “Hospital Magicians,” he's learned since then anything happens when you devote your time and heart to helping others - and passes this sense of hope and wonder on to each sick child he visits.
OHM uses the therapeutic (治疗的) power of magic and laughter to help energize and strengthen seriously ill children in Chicago area hospitals.
Why magic? According to OHM, scientific studies suggest the benefits of magic as a tool to gain trust, relieve tension, enhance cognitive (认知) function and more.
For Sean, making the commitment to become a Hospital Magician was simple. “I trust the mission of the organization, interviewed, and went through 13 weeks of training to become a Hospital Magician,” he says.
“An unbelievable thing happened to me on my first day by myself at the hospital,” he relates. The first patient was a 10-year-old boy. Sean walked into the boy's room and his parents were standing by his bed. As taught, Sean introduced himself and said he was with OHM. He asked if the boy wanted to see some magic.
Sean performed 3-4 tricks. When finished, he thanked them and noticed all of them smiling. They all thanked Sean for stopping by as he walked out of the room. Walking down the hall, Sean thought, “Wow, that was a really great experience for my first room on my first day!”
Sean was absolutely floored. “I think I managed to say, ‘Thank you', but that's about all I could get out as I felt myself starting to well up,” he remembers. “I knew we would impact the kids and their families during difficult times, but I never expected to see it so soon.”
Sean was addicted to it. He talks about how that first night was not the exception, but the norm. He's had similar inspiring, incredible experiences throughout the last six months as a Hospital Magician.
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Because he had a lot of sympathy for the seriously ill children.
