Emerging Courageous online Magazine
How does one cope with a cancer
diagnosis? by Deb Gerace
How does one cope with a cancer diagnosis?
Scream, go into denial, find religion, become a hermit, take a trip
around the world, dedicate your life to helping others….choose one of the
above. Actually, what I
did was to create a CD; The
Prayer Whisperer, to calm and comfort me as I recovered from surgery and cope
with stress today, five years into survivorship.
As a musician, aware of the power of music on our moods and health, I searched
for music to heal by for an earlier recovery, but couldn’t find the right fit.
Classics, New Age, hymns, chanting,
easy listening, folks, Celtic, I found useful parts of each, but none alone was
exactly what I needed. That answer
came later, after a trip to Scotland.
After recovery, I keenly felt the brevity of our tenure
here on the planet and a driving need to meet more of the World, to put sleeping
dreams and quests into action. The cautions and hesitations that modified my
progress earlier were now plowed under this new urgency.
I earned a grant which took me to the United Kingdom in a study tour of
Celtic Folk Art & Music. Since
my colleague and I were two thirds of a vocal trio, we let it be known by email
that we could barter in the U.K...music for lodgings, teaching for food - we
were interested. A minister in Scotland responded, an ex-singer, himself who
had toured the American South in his youth.
He welcomed the chance to return Southern hospitality.
Karmic keys were already beginning to open locks.
On our way to Scotland, we traveled through England and once again, as I
lifted my guitar into the back of a waiting cab, the young female cabbie told me
she played, too and off we went with our instruments, to Stonehenge and Avebury
for the Summer Solstice with the meter silenced, a new friend and music as my
key.
In Scotland, riding the bus from Edinburgh to Clifford Hugh’s 11th
century church, a chatty fellow passenger who knew him, informed us that he was
recovering from throat cancer. Upon
meeting Clifford and his wife, the instant opening and blossoming of self that
survivors share, occurred. Such
events make us realize the need for “now-ness,” for jumping into the
activity and joining in the community of the world, not pausing to shyly test
the wind for fearful differences or disapproval. We stayed 6 days, helping with
the Manse chores, working with Clifford’s children’s group and singing for
his Church family. It was a magical time visiting spiritual places of stone
circles, ancient cathedrals, and other paradoxical mysteries which influenced
every facet of Prayer Whisperer.
Returning to the States, we learned that Clifford’s cancer returned, resulting
in a laryngectomy and costing him his voice. Inspired rather than beaten, he
quickly learned the new gravelly glottal speech (a lady parishioner told him he
sounded sexy) giving a wonderful interview on Faith Radio in Scotland.
My copy arrived as I developed laryngitis, a few days before going into
studio to sing and chant prayers for my project, this unusual healing CD. Remembering his impressive whispered prayers from the pulpit,
I breathed mine into the microphone.
I collected prayers from sources ranging from the Bible, to Native American and
very human prayers, based on my own rambling spiritual thoughts in the dark of
night. Bridging them from Old
Testament to New Age, they fit my philosophy of Life.
I listened to it regularly, then shared it with my Survivor Group.
They loved it, passed it on - Bible Circles discussed it on Wednesday
evenings, patients played it in recovery rooms, hospice workers called me about
it, as well as substance abuse counselors.
Cancer has opened a new window in my life, an adventure and a ministry. A
fellow patient emailed me to say he took Prayer Whisperer and portable CD player
and headsets into the recovery room with him after spinal surgery.
“Take two Prayer Whisperers and call me in the morning?” Well, he could do a lot worse!
BIO:Deb Gerace is a music teacher at The Walker School
in Marietta, Ga., and one third of Vintage Vocals, a singing trio and sisterhood
that has sung varied venues, from Renaissance Festivals to a USO tour in
Germany. Born in Kentucky, she
lives in Kennesaw, Ga. Married to
Michael for 32 years, she lives the concept that the joy is in the journey.
Contact Deb at [email protected]
or (770) 926 9536.
Return
to Homepage
Return
to Featured Stories