Music As Medicine : Deforia Lane's Life of Music, Healing, and Faith

Deforia Lane shares the healing power of music. Once a budding opera singer, Lane has dedicated her talent to treating hospital patients with music therapy. The results are astonishing. In the presence of Deforia's musical gifts, seriously ill people find new joy and hope. Lane is the first music therapist to receive a grant to study music's therapeutic effects on cancer patients. Thousands of patients have been inspired by her, and her success has spurred hospitals across the nation to launch music therapy programs. "Music and healing are often matters of the human spirit," says Deforia. "because of the nature of my job, I have witnessed more than a few miracles, miracles worth telling and retelling." Music as Medicine is a window into Deforia Lane's world of miracles, where the melody of one person's life has brought healing and strength to many.

Dr. Deforia Lane is resident director of music therapy at the Ireland Cancer Center and Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Cleveland. Lane lives in Cleveland with her husband and two sons. Rob Wilkins is author of Taking the Child's Way Home and the award-winning Tender Love, and is co-author with Bill Hybels of Descending into Greatness. He lives in Zanesfield, Ohio.