The tranquil harmonies of the holiday season filled the halls of Lurie Children’s Hospital on Friday, courtesy of students from Vernon Hills High School.
This talented chamber choir has a tradition of spreading joy with their heartfelt performances during the festive season.
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“It’s a wonderful feeling to bring happiness to others,” expressed John Ziegelbauer, a junior at Vernon Hills High School. “It’s like sharing a positive message.”
For Ziegelbauer, performing at Lurie Children’s Hospital is a meaningful way to express his gratitude.
“I really value the idea of saying ‘thank you.’ The staff here is exceptional, and I’ve met so many kind people during my visits,” Ziegelbauer shared.
In his first year of high school, Ziegelbauer received a diagnosis of a rare chronic illness, which has made it challenging for him to eat and drink independently.
He was admitted to Lurie Children’s Hospital for about three weeks during his freshman year, potentially jeopardizing his dream of singing with the Vernon Hills High School Chamber Choir.
“I was really concerned about being able to sing again,” Ziegelbauer said. “You almost forget about singing because it’s impossible to sing.”
Michelle Moran, Ziegelbauer’s mother, says even though her son was discharged from the hospital, he is still facing a lifetime of lifestyle changes, like changing his diet, to control the disease.
“It’s incredibly difficult when your child is sick,” Moran said.
Despite the new obstacles, Ziegelbauer never wavered on his musical ambitions.
“Just so proud of him. Really, really proud of him. He just never gave up,” Moran said.
He was ultimately selected to perform in the school’s chamber choir, making him one of the group’s youngest members at the time.
“To see where he started to where he is now, to see that he’s stuck with it,” said Vernon Hills Chamber Choir Director Jeremy Little. “To watch that quiet behind-the-scenes growth is pretty awesome.”
It is a moving holiday message for all of us to never give up or to lose hope.
“The thought of performing for the people who helped me, it’s nice feeling, like, maybe I am helping them,” Ziegelbauer said.
Looking to the future, Ziegelbauer says he hopes to pursue a career in health care after receiving care at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
