Health: Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia Releases "Shake It Off" Music Video
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new music video from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a YouTube sensation. It's a rendition of Taylor Swift's song "Shake It Off", like you've never seen before.
CBS 3 had the first behind the scene interviews with the stars of the new video.
You'll never see a bunch of sick kids having so much fun in a hospital. Among the many stars, 15-year-old Halim Smith who needs a liver transplant. He says, "Even though we're in the hospital we can still have fun you know." Taylor Swift's song "Shake It Off" has an important message. Halim explains, "Shake all the bad stuff off and think everything in a positive way, don't think of everything as being bad."
Eleven-year-old Hannah Stetson has lost half her colon, making the music video was a welcome distraction. "It was really good to be in Taylor Swift's video because she's amazing and being in the video was really fun," Hannah said.
WATCH: Shake It Off: CHOP Celebrates Child Life Month
The video that had more than 200,000 views on YouTube in the first days after it was posted, was created by the Child Life Department. It coordinates things like - art, music and pet therapy programs. It's the department that creates fun, making the hospital a less scary place. Elise Keels with Child Life says, "They lose so much control when they're here but they're still having fun with our services so they're shaking if off."
Seven-year-old Bryan Sadowski had a special move for the music video, shaking his foot. And he calls Taylor his "girlfriend". His mom Melissa says, "He really loved it. It was a nice break for him." Bryan had brain surgery for a defective valve that bled and caused a stroke. Bryan says it was, "..a boo boo in his brain."
The children here at CHOP and the people who take care of them are confronted with heartbreakers all the time, but like the song says they keep on cruising and shake it off.
The video was done in honor of Child Life Month, recognizing the importance of the specialists who help sick children cope and provide emotional support to families.
Links:
Video: http://bit.ly/1xgI3eX
For more: http://www.chop.edu/childlife