Music therapy and art change lives

Two weeks ago (June 2015), I went to New York to meet some physicians. One of them was Gabriel Sara. Dr. Gabriel Sara is a medical oncologist in New York and is affiliated with Mount Sinai St. Luke’s-Roosevelt. I met him in 2013 at The International Listening Association Conference in Montreal, where we spoke about the importance of listening to cancer patients in healthcare. We became friends and shared a lot about our passion.

I want to share a few highlights of our encounter. I can’t share everything because of the privacy of patients.
I think one of the beautiful initiatives of Gabe is his monthly breakfast meeting. This meeting aims to allow his department’s caregivers to share their emotions and feelings when facing challenging or rewarding situations with various patients. This meeting has been a healing place for many and bonding between the different caregivers.
At the end of their breakfast meeting, they sing a song together. And it is beautiful. Hearing all those caregivers sing together ‘Blowing in the wind’ made me cry.
At one of the meetings, they spent time talking about a patient that everyone loved very dearly and who was imminently dying. When they finished the meeting and the singing, the massage therapist said: “How about if we go sing for her “. Of course, Gabe immediately said: “Let’s do it!!” So they went to the lady’s bedside who was deeply lethargic and sang for her ‘Imagine’ of John Lennon. She died 1 hour after their song. When I saw the video, it made me cry again.

But there is so much more Gabe had to share. He truly believes little things can make the most significant difference in the lives of cancer patients. When his good friend’s wife, Helen Sawaya, passed away from breast cancer in 2005, he and Helen’s husband, Fuad Sawaya, started The Helen Sawaya Fund in her memory. “We wanted to create something that will change cancer patients’ lives and their experiences through their treatment.” Well, they did!

The Helen Sawaya Fund offers patients going through chemotherapy in Mount Sinai St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Chemotherapy Infusion Suite a variety of integrative treatments at no cost.

They include:

Music therapy
Art programs
A make-up and hair program
Hand massage
Pet therapy

The programs have introduced art and music to people who did not suspect they had a liking for it. One patient ended up tapping into an unexplored talent and opening an exhibit of his art after finishing treatment. But I also saw a patient dancing the Tango with one of the therapists in the Chemotherapy Infusion Suite.

“You should see the transformation in patients. It’s just unbelievable. Every day, I walk in and see our patients who are getting these integrative treatments, and it’s miraculous what it does for them. It also has an incredible impact on the staff. They are happy to see their patients feeling well.”

Art is now offered in the radiation suite as well. Patients waiting for radiation therapy can work with artists on painting and crafts. Certified music therapists offer music therapy. The positive impact on patients and their families is so profound that a single session can sometimes carry a beneficial effect for several weeks or even months. Music therapy and art are also offered to the inpatients on the oncology floor at the hospital.

What I heard, felt, and experienced during my visit is that it transforms the patient’s entire treatment experience. These art sessions remind patients that they are alive!