Home Run for Sweet Singers

May 17, 2007 — -- The stands at New York's Shea Stadium were home to 15,000 children today who took a moment from cheering the Mets to record a song for a very sick little boy.

The song was later given, in the form of a CD, to Ronald Sterling, a 7-year-old with a rare immune disorder. "Sesame Street's" Bob McGrath sang lead vocals on the track, as organized by the Songs of Love Foundation, which has created 12,000 personalized songs to boost the spirits of seriously sick children.

"It's [called] 'A Song of Love.' And it really is that," McGrath told ABC's Dan Harris.

Hours afte the song was recorded, McGrath presented the CD directly to Ronald at St. Mary's Children's Hospital, as he was too sick to attend the baseball game. The youngster said hearing those children sing his name made him "happy."

In all of the "Song of Love" recordings, the lyrics are customized for each kid, so Ronald's mentions Mets baseball, doughnuts with sprinkles and Xbox video games.

"This has become a new form of music therapy, if you will," said John Beltzer of the Songs of Love Foundation. "They're actually playing these songs while the children are receiving painful treatments in the hospital. They'll play it at home when they're not feeling well. Typically, when they receive the song, they'll play it 50 to 60 times the first day and drive their parents crazy."

Ronald said if he could say something to the singers, he would tell them, "Thank you for the song and have a God bless day."

It must be lonely for a 7-year-old, facing a terrifying disease. But today — and forever on his CD — thousands are singing Ronald Sterling's name.