Jamie Sanchez’s father, Lance Vogelmann, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2014.
“He had surgery, and the cancer was successfully removed,” shared Jamie. “My dad decided against chemotherapy and was healthy for several years. Then in April 2019, he developed a persistent cough.”
Lance made an appointment to see his doctor, who ordered a chest x-ray. The news was devastating: His cancer had returned and was stage 4; it had metastasized to his liver, lungs and stomach.
“He underwent chemo for several months, but in September, he was admitted to Advocate Sherman Hospital. The doctors told us the chemo wasn’t working. Unfortunately, there was nothing more we could do for him.”
Jamie’s father received hospice care for several days and passed away on Sept. 29. At his funeral, Jamie’s mother, Pam Vogelmann, began feeling unwell.
“A week after my dad passed, we took my mom to the emergency department at Advocate Sherman because she was having a hard time breathing. She’d been a smoker her whole life and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema,” explained Jamie. “She was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the intensive care unit.”
Pam’s condition was touch and go over the following days. She was intubated, then extubated, then reintubated because she couldn’t breathe on her own. Then, she took a turn for the worse.
“One day, my son and I were at the hospital together. The doctor wanted to speak with us in the hallway. She told us all the tests showed my mom’s lungs were too damaged for further treatment. I was an absolute mess.”
While the doctor was telling them the tragic news, something unexpected happened.
“At first, I thought the beautiful music we were hearing was coming from a speaker system. But I could just make out the top of a woman’s head and a harp behind a nurses’ station at the other end of the hall,” said Jamie. “The whole time the doctor was talking, the woman was playing gentle, compassionate music. I felt scared, hopeless and so sad, but the music was soothing and comforting.”
The harpist, Joanne, was playing as part of Advocate Sherman’s therapeutic music program, Musicians Care. The program, which is fully supported by philanthropy, brings in specially trained musicians to share the healing power of music with patients and families.
“My mom loved to sing, and I knew she could hear the music in her room. We are a music family – my children and I are all musicians. Music is so important in our lives, and I was so grateful to have had that experience. I had no idea this program existed, and I really wished I’d been able to meet Joanne and thank her.”
Just a few weeks after Jamie’s father had died, her mother passed on Oct. 23, 2019.
A chance to say ‘thanks’
Earlier this year, Jamie, who works for the building materials company Ozinga, was approached by a friend, a member of the Development Council, about sponsoring an upcoming event.
“When my friend told me the event was to support the musicians who play for patients and families at the hospital, it really hit home,” she shared. “I told him about the woman who played the harp and how much it had meant to me.”
Not only did Ozinga sponsor the event, but Jamie and her husband were also able to attend it. And she was finally able to meet the woman who had unknowingly helped calm her during the most difficult time of her life.
“I told Joanne my story and thanked her for the beautiful gift of music. It made me feel peaceful and soothed even though my world was falling apart around me. Music can heal and bring you to another place when you think you have nothing left.”
How you can help
Research shows that music has a profound effect on both your physical and mental health. Our Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) tailors each session to meet specific patient needs in a gentle, non-interventional and non-pharmacological manner. Advocate Sherman’s therapeutic music program only exists because of the generosity of donors. To support Musicians Care and help families like Jamie’s, please make a gift today.