Playing the piano was one of the few activities Melissa Berg could do while enduring autoimmune hepatitis and two liver transplants.

The 16-year-old has been playing the piano since she was 5. While she was in a hospital in Denver for about six months, her music teacher, Arlene Osborn, sent her classical and modern music.

Melissa's mom, Sally, said Melissa uses music to calm herself. It comforted her during her stay at the hospital. Melissa even played the horribly out-of-tune piano at Denver Children's Hospital a few times.

"She really missed the piano," Sally said. "Even when she couldn't play, she would read the music Arlene sent her."

Melissa was thrilled when she moved into the Ronald McDonald House in Denver, which had a baby grand piano. Families from outside Denver live at the Ronald McDonald House while being treated at Denver hospitals.

The Casper Music Teachers Association is sponsoring the second annual "Music for Melissa" festival this Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at Durham Hall at Casper College.

Osborn held the event last year and raised $4,000. This year will be different, though. Instead of raising money for Melissa, the money will go toward the new Ronald McDonald House in Denver.

Sally lived in Denver for about six months while Melissa was being treated.Without the organization, Sally said, she would have been isolated in an apartment somewhere, and it would have been much more expensive.

"When you are gone away from home so long it is so important," Sally said. "There was so much emotional support."

Sally said about 30 percent of the families who use the house are from Wyoming.

Melissa remembers all the movies the home had and the comfortable recliners where she fell asleep so many times.

Melissa and her younger sister, Jessica, both will perform at the festival. Melissa will play "God Help the Outcasts" from Disney's animated version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Osborn said the Berg girls are just two of about 50 musicians performing short pieces Saturday.

"They wanted to be able to do something for someone in a similar situation," she said.

What: The second annual "Music for Melissa" festival sponsored by the Casper Music Teachers Association. Musicians from all over the community, including Melissa Berg and her sister, will perform.

When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.

Where: Durham Hall at Casper College.

Why: To raise money for the Ronald McDonald House in Denver, where Melissa and her family spent time during her illness.

For more info: Contact Arlene Osborn at (307) 436-8754.

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