Music Heals

“Would you like for me to play you a few songs?” I ask as I enter a patient’s room at Northeast Methodist Hospital.

A lady lying on the bed wrapped in a hospital blanket, looks up at me. “Yes, I would love that,” she replied. "It is so lonely being here."

I pull up a chair, sit down with my guitar near the bed. I introduce myself and ask what she’d like to hear. She decides on Country Roads by John Denver, and I begin to play. She starts to sing along with a wide smile on her face.

When the song is finished, she says, “That was wonderful! Thank you!"

The diagnosis

If you had told me a few years ago I’d be singing songs in front of patients in a hospital, I would have said you were crazy. Life does have a way of surprising us. The irony is not lost on me. Not too long ago, I was the patient.

Cancer was the last thing on my mind when I went into for an annual physical in the spring of 2016. I was notified by my provider me that all my blood levels were elevated. A referral to a hematologist and subsequent tests revealed I had a blood cancer called polycythemia vera. She explained my bone marrow produces too many red blood cells which makes my blood thick. Ultimately, if left untreated, I could suffer a heart attack, blood clot or stroke. The hematologist made a follow up appointment for a few months later where we would talk about treatment options. Unfortunately, before I had that appointment, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma or breast cancer.

Not the year I was planning. The remainder of that arduous year was filled with surgeries, chemo, scans, and hospitalizations. Following that, I began taking medication to keep my blood levels from the polycythemia under control.

Healing power of music

In 2022, I wrote a story called The Power of Music for Blood Cancer.com, sharing some of the therapeutic aspects of music. Throughout my cancer journey I have experienced it firsthand the healing power of music in a variety of capacities. During the challenging time that preceded my diagnoses, music helped me through. I found when I listened to music, or pulled out my guitar and sang, I felt immediately better. Not only did relax me and provide comfort, but it seemed to lessen the pain I felt with the multitude of issues I was facing.

A few years following my dual cancer diagnoses, I became involved with a Veteran songwriting organization called Soldier Songs and Voices. The first song I ever wrote called You Can Go, was an upbeat cancer song. Writing this song (with lots of help from an amazing songwriter, Mary Bragg), was so incredibly therapeutic. I no longer felt the grief of losing my “old me.” I began to embrace my “new normal.”

Since that time, I’ve gone onto write dozens more. Each song, regardless of the topic, has lifted my spirits.

Helping Patients through Music

I heard about a San Antonio based organization called Hearts Need Art a couple years ago. This organization provides both art and music to patients in hospitals.

Remembering how isolated I felt while I was hospitalized, I was intrigued. What a great idea! I reached out to volunteer. Although I can draw a pretty awesome stick person, art is not my forte. However, I could play music and became a resident musician.  Now I spend several times a month playing guitar and singing, going room to room at various hospitals around the city. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! To see how music brightens a patient’s day and the impact it makes is almost magical.

I hope to continue to provide music to patients for years to come.