A recording of
‘Wild Wonders’

By Brian Rademaekers
Times Staff Writer

Two years ago, Kim Alexander and her husband Joe Walsh got quite a scare when their daughter Keely suddenly became ill.
"She was eating a lot and drinking a lot of juice, and she just kept losing weight," said Alexander.
On top of that, the 6-year-old — normally overflowing with energy — was often tired.
Those troubling symptoms sent the Fairmount family to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where Keely was diagnosed with Type I diabetes.
Over a period of four frightening days, the hospital staff finally managed to stabilize her insulin levels. But a few weeks later the family was hit with a new shock, and this one wasn’t caused by low blood-sugar levels.
It came from a more than $30,000 bill that had mounted during Keely’s stay at the hospital.
"It wasn’t even that we weren’t insured — we had just signed up for a new plan," explained Alexander. "The insurance company found a loophole and told us that they didn’t have to pay for anything because we hadn’t been on the plan for thirty days."
In addition to dealing with their daughter’s illness, Alexander and her husband now had a huge financial crisis on their hands.
It didn’t take long, however, before the couple came up with a creative solution that not only would help them pay off their medical debt but would also lend a hand to other families facing a similar diagnosis.
Alexander, an on-air disc jockey at the University of Pennsylvania radio station, 88.5 WXPN, from 1992 to 1997, had a few good connections in the music business.
She is a musician herself and now works as a DJ for private parties. That background helped her to pursue something she’d long yearned to do, while also helping her daughter.
"I had always wanted to make a CD for a children’s charity, so when Keely was diagnosed, it just made sense," explained Alexander.
Once she had the idea, she made a call to Miner Street studios in Fishtown. The local studio, run by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey, has been a popular location for some of the city’s most celebrated bands, including the Espers, the Capitol Years, and the newly hot Hoots and Hellmouth.
Luckily for Alexander, McTear and Morrissey received the idea warmly, and offered their services. Eventually, Miner Street pitched in and produced three of the album’s tracks.
"They were the first ones to say they would help out, and it was really great," Alexander recalled. "When they said yes, I knew this project was going to work out."
And it has. All the Wild Wonders is an 18-track compilation that features both local musicians and nationally known bands.
The CD was released during the spring, and 40 percent of the sales are being applied to Keely’s medical bills, with the other 60 percent being contributed to the Children With Diabetes Foundation.
"They do a lot of research work, and when Keely was first diagnosed, we found their Web site to be a great resource," said Alexander.
The contract called for production of about 5,000 CDs. So far, Alexander said, several hundred have been sold.
"I just started calling people up and asking if they would contribute. I was really knocked out and blown away and touched with the response I got," she said.
While compiling the songs, a big coup for Alexander was landing a track from the popular rock band They Might Be Giants, who played their song Clap Your Hands for the special project.
"Those guys have a lot on their plate right now, and it took a lot of phone calls to finally tie it down," said Alexander.
The musically gifted mother also appears on the CD with her band Hank’s Cadillac, playing the title track All the Wild Wonders.
Alexander said the song originally was done by the Australian a cappella band CoCo’s Lunch, and that it always has been one of her daughter’s favorites.
Other local acts that appear on the CD include John Flynn, The Tell Alls, and The Knife and Fork Band.
Alexander said she and her husband are getting close to covering the cost of the hospital stay, though they still have plenty of CDs to sell.
"Even Bruce Springsteen has trouble selling CDs these days," quipped Alexander. "We’ve got a long way to go."
Once the family’s medical bills are paid off, the rest of the CD sales will go to the foundation.
"All of the goodwill and diabetes aside, it’s just a great collection of songs," says Alexander. "It’s something that parents and children can listen to together and enjoy. There isn’t anything like ‘here we go ’round the mulberry bush’ that’ll have adults covering up their ears and running for cover."
The most important stamp of approval, perhaps, comes from Keely.
"She loves it," says her mom. ••
Locally, you can get the CD at Ali’s Wagon, on the 2000 block of Fairmount Ave. It also can be found at Main Street Music in Manayunk, and online at cwdfoundation.org
Reporter Brian Rademaekers can be reached at 215-354-3039 or brademaekers@phillynews.com