'America’s Got Talent' Contestants Perform at LLUCH

LOMA LINDA>> Patients at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital were treated to a private performance July 26 from current America’s Got Talent contestants, the Edgar Family Band. The family trio, comprised of mother Nikki Leonti-Edgar, father Ryan Edgar and their daughter Jaslyn, shared their love of music with patients at the hospital. Edgar performed five songs for an intimate crowd of roughly 50 patients and staff, during which one young patient took it upon himself to join in. Franco Gonzalez Bucio, 2, from San Bernardino, a lover of all things music according to his mom, joined the trio with his pint-sized guitar. “He likes to pretend he can play any instrument,” Maria Gonzalez Bucio said of her son, who has been in and out of the hospital since May battling leukemia. “He even likes to serenade the girls on the unit.” This visit was Nikki’s first time at LLUCH in more than 25 years since her brother lost his battle with cancer. Nikki wanted to give back to the hospital and staff who compassionately cared for her brother by sharing her family’s music with patients, like Franco, who are undergoing treatment at the hospital. “Seeing these kids struggling definitely makes it hard to keep it together,” Nikki said. “But knowing we’re bringing joy and a moment away from their individual situations makes it a little easier.” Nikki, a Corona native, now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. Before they departed the hospital, Edgar got input from the patients on what song they should sing for their next performance on AGT. They also visited with patients on the units who were unable to attend the performance. The family trio made their debut performance on AGT in June this year and will begin live shows this August on NBC. They said they hope to return to Loma Linda in the near future to sing for the kids again.