N.E.D.: The Healing Power of Music

I had actually scrapped this post, and told Drew Citron as much. 

Drew's PR firm TwoShepsThatPass has been engaged to drive funds to/awareness of women's cancers.  They are publicizing the band N.E.D. No Evidence of Disease, a band comprised of five gynecologic oncologists.  N.E.D. will be performing at the 1st Annual Gynecologic Cancer Foundation Race to End Women's Cancer.

Initially I'd said - sure, happy to help -- and looked forward to interviewing lead singer Dr. Joannie Hope (see below).

But as I began to write, I couldn't seem to find a way to connect to and tell N.E.D.'s story.  If I can't connect with a person, a story, a stock, a job -- game over; I'm just not about dialing things in.

If I haven't had cancer...
Nor has anyone I dearly love had cancer -- though it's only a matter of time...
Nor can I relate a story of any of the band members having had cancer...

How do I connect?

In trying to find a win-win, Drew countered with, "What about exploring the themes of healing through music from your own perspective?"

Pay dirt.

Perhaps because music has more often been a bane than a balm in my life, I hadn't seen it.  Yet, I have -- haven't we all -- been in a place, whether a stuck place (or any other place, for that matter), for which music made meaning of an experience and/or just made us happier?

Three examples: 

1. As I wrote in my series of posts Tell Your Soundtrack Story, while living in Manhattan, I was better -- happier -- nearly every Sunday because of the music I heard in church, especially D. Fletcher's music.
2. More recently, I was moved by Macy Robison's cabaret-style recital Children Will Listen, which makes meaning of mothering.  Having the privilege of accompanying her (playing the piano, specifically) made it that much more meaningful for me.
3. As I deal with the daily ups-and-downs, music can pick-me-up, or punch-things-up when I'm already having a good day. 

What a gift then -- that these doctors who care deeply about healing their patients, galvanizing them as they battle cancer -- have added to their toolbox music.

With that as a backdrop, click here or on the image below to hear N.E.D. tell their story.

***

What are your thoughts?  How has music healed you? 

Did you listen to the lyrics of False Pretenses in the video?  Written in the context of treating a life-threatening disease, the lyrics are poignant -- and true whether we are sick or well.  Lay down your walls... Tell me how you really feel..there isn't time for false pretenses...

If you do decide to download N.E.D.'s music, ALL proceeds from MUSIC SALES and DONATIONS will go to the N.E.D. Fund at the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, to support gynecologic cancer research and awareness.

If you'd like to explore the topic further, you may be interested in the book Music and Cancer:  A Prescription for Healing by Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth, one of the members of the band.

***

P.S.  I also had the opportunity to interview Dr. Joanie Hope, a gynecologic surgeon and lead singer for N.E.D. No Evidence of Disease. 

In speaking with Dr. Hope, she touched on several themes we discuss frequently on 'dare to dream'. 

1)  Music was always a love of Dr. Hope's, but in college, she had a moment where she realized that eventually it may be the right decision for her to write and sing, but now was not the time.  Now she needed to go to medical school.  She put the dream of being a musician on hold (trusted herself in that decision), and years later her life experiences have come together in an unexpected, rather magical, mosaic. Could she have possibly imagined that her music would someday enliven and heal?

2)  During medical school, at a time when her life was about science, structure, rigor, she found herself more creative than ever, with songs spilling out of her.  Isn't it interesting that we are most creative (with art, money, ideas) when we have constraints and structure.  It's as if we thrive when we achieve a balance between structure and play.   

3)  Prior to a major medical conference of gynecological oncologists, Dr. Larry Maxwell, in an impresario-type move, decided to put together a rock-and-roll cover band.  He put out a notice -- Dr. Hope saw the notice, and signed up. To join N.E.D., she had to suit up and show up. Some times things fall into our lap, and people ask us to participate, or to play.  But more often than not, they don't.

Comments

[Lisle]

That. Is. Cool!

Having become aware of the effects of cancer on loved ones very early in my life, I think it's great to see how these doctors have taken their work outside of the office. Play, maybe, but isn't it a beautiful thing when you can integrate that positive side of your job with what other people need in their lives? They'll be able to help patients they've never met, and spread hope and comfort as they go. I love it. How wonderful that they've found a way to express themselves through reaching out.

[Lisle]

And they're GOOD!

[Amy Jo]

What a great thing those doctors are doing! Thanks for sharing. We'll enjoy listening together.

[Jenny]

Music IS healing.
I love to turn on some good, loud music to help me work through feeling sad, mad or down. Kudos to NED, and kudos to you, Whitney for finding the angle that helped you post this.
xo

[EHD]

I have an autistic son. I was exposed to the Suzuki method through my daughter's violin lessons and realized that it could help him form some critical (and apparently missing) neural synapses. I will spare you the details of five years of painstaking effort, but I am absolutely convinced that he speaks and reads now in no small part due to the therapeutic value of early musical training.