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Musical tribute nets nearly $2,000 for Edward Hospital

A Naperville teen's tribute to the hospital that helped save her father's life raised nearly $2,000 and brought 150 people together for a night of "Healing Hearts with Harmony."

Taylor Kroma, 17, planned the benefit concert for Edward Hospital as a thank you for the work doctors there did to keep her father, Jeff Kroma, alive.

Kroma went in for a test in February, but soon began experiencing heart pain and had to have emergency surgery. He went into a coma for 12 days, had a stroke, suffered seizures and experienced several blood clots. But his doctors now expect him to make a full recovery.

Taylor planned "Healing Hearts with Harmony: A Charity Concert for Edward Hospital" for May 19 during the busy end-of-year concert season at her high school, Naperville North.

She plays cello, string bass or electric bass in multiple ensembles, including symphonic orchestra, jazz ensemble, jazz combo, chamber music combo and pit orchestra. So putting together a night of music featuring those groups and others seemed like a fitting way to give back, Taylor said.

"It was really exciting to be able to look out and see I put on this concert and I was able to bring all these people together," Taylor said. "It was a really gratifying feeling."

Taylor presented a check Monday for $1,920 to Edward Foundation officials who said they were inspired by her efforts to benefit the hospital. The money will be put toward the cardiology fund, the Healing Arts program, which supports musicians who perform throughout the hospital, or toward other equipment or technology, she said.

Kroma, 54, attended the benefit concert with pride for the tribute his daughter accomplished. His daughter said he continues to receive treatment through Edward Hospital and plans to return in late July to his job as a computer analyst at the American Bar Association in Chicago.

"I know he was happy to get to see all the students coming together to raise money for the hospital," Taylor said.

Naperville teen 'Healing Hearts' with benefit concert

  Naperville North High School student Taylor Kroma raised nearly $2,000 for the Edward Foundation through the "Healing Hearts with Harmony" benefit concert she planned in May. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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