Maury Regional Cancer Center Receives Headphone Donation

November 02, 2021 - 09:38 PM - 7860 views

COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Patients at the Maury Regional Cancer Center will now have the option of listening to calming instrumental music while undergoing treatments thanks to a donation of wireless headphones from The River of Calm – Music to Soothe Your SoulTM online radio station through the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation.

The River of Calm Healing Headphones are wireless rechargeable headphones that are pre-loaded with a selection of calming instrumental pieces carefully curated to ease discomfort and provide a peaceful environment for patients. Cathy Oakes, a Columbia-based composer and concert pianist associated with The River of Calm, and Ed Bazel, the station’s founder, recently donated 20 sets of the headphones to the Foundation for use at the Maury Regional Cancer Center.

“I was a breast cancer patient at the Maury Regional Cancer Center and the care that I received here was absolutely beyond compare,” Oakes said. “Personally, going through the experience of breast cancer, music got me through it. When I couldn’t sleep at night — afraid of what was happening, feeling like I had no control — I would sit for hours and just listen to music. I know the healing power of music. My hope is that we can share that with others.”

Each set of headphones features pre-installed musical selections composed and produced by musicians affiliated with The River of Calm. The headphones were created in partnership with Alive Inside, an organization that works to improve quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients by playing music from their youth. The Maury Regional Cancer Center is serving as the pilot program for The River of Calm Healing Headphones for use with cancer patients.

“We believe in the power of music,” Bazel said. “If our music can help just one human soul through a difficult time like chemotherapy then we have achieved our highest purpose as musicians in this world.”

Oakes and Bazel made the donation to the Foundation in honor of John Brown, MD, FACS, a specialist in breast surgery on the Maury Regional Health medical staff. The headphones are now available for use by patients who are undergoing infusion treatment at the Maury Regional Cancer Center.

“We are so grateful to Cathy, Ed, The River of Calm and Alive Inside for this kind and thoughtful donation to the Maury Regional Cancer Center,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “These headphones with customized music will make such a positive difference in the lives of our patients as they undergo treatment for cancer.”

The state-of-the-art Maury Regional Cancer Center is located at the Columbia Mall and is a comprehensive treatment center that includes the clinical specialists, treatment technologies and support services needed by cancer patients and their family members. The Maury Regional Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology and the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.


Photo Caption: Pictured (l-r) are John Brown, MD, FACS, a specialist in breast surgery on the Maury Regional Health medical staff; Cathy Oakes, a Columbia-based musician; Ed Bazel, founder of The River of Calm; Maury Regional Administrative Director of Oncology Dana Salters; Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore; and Infusion Center Nurse Navigator Joanne Ferebee.

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