Teen Band Rocks For A Cause
(CBS) -- 12-year old Matthew Jazwinski is a 7th grader at Cary Junior High School. He's also a cardiac patient at Lurie Children's Hospital.
"He received treatment for a series of complex heart defects and a pacemaker to help his heart have a rhythm. He received his first pacemaker at age 3," said Tamara Jazwinski, Matthew's mother.
"Lurie has saved Matthew's life. He couldn't do what he does without them."
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Jazwinski says playing sports wasn't really an option for Matthew given his condition, so he turned to music which she says always came easy for him.
"He loves to write music. His primary instrument is the bass, but he also plays the drums and guitar. He loves to write music."
Now, he and his band, Pulse Beat performs for various hospital benefits and other charity events.
"He loves playing the guitar, the drums but wanted to play with his friends and that's how Pulse Beat was formed."
Jazwinski plays bass, his four friends play the drums, guitar and sing.
"Matthew is 12, the drummer Joe is also 12, there's Drew who is 14, the lead guitarist, we have a singer and a rhythm guitarist, Sarah and Lizzie who are both 16. They are a good group of kids."
The group meets once a week to rehearse and they work with a music coach.
Jazwinski is their official manager. She says word has spread and now the band is booked until June. In the last year, the group has helped to raise $1.5 million for Lurie and other events. Jazwinski says her son wants to be a musician but she says he's already a rock star in more ways than one.
