Julia Rae is a successful professional singer and actress from Delaware County but there was a time when she was a young patient being treated for cystic fibrosis at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, writes Stephanie Stahl for CBS Philadelphia.

Now the former patient is back at the hospital, but this time, she’s easing the lives of other patients there.

To thank the hospital for the support she received, Rae is dropping off gifts to other patients. 

The Feel Better Boxes contain things that meant a lot to Rae when she was a young patient and were inspired from the music therapy she received at CHOP.

Rae was born with cystic fibrosis, a disease that causes thick mucus to build up in organs.

While Rae had to be hospitalized for her symptoms, she still managed to pursue a love of music and singing.

“It was difficult to sing from the standpoint of physically demanding for me but actually, it was so therapeutic,” she said.

At 16, Rae created the nonprofit “Singing at the Top of My Lungs” to fund music therapy programs and help the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Rae, now 31, takes medication that eliminates most of her symptoms.

Find out more about Julia Rae and her inspiration to give back at CBS Philadelphia.