Healing sounds for the soul

Walking into the Sentara Brock Cancer Center, visitors are often greeted by the soothing sounds of local harpist and therapeutic musician, Karen Stowe. Since 2021, Karen has shared her gift of “musical medicine” at the cancer center several times per month. The calming music she plays is designed to support the healing environment of the center — offering peace and solace to patients, visitors and Sentara staff as they care for individuals navigating their journey through cancer treatment.

“While I initially trained as a performance musician, playing for an audience looking for pure entertainment was never my calling,” Karen explains.

Being a therapeutic musician means Karen uses the intrinsic healing elements of live music to create an environment that’s conducive to healing. She’s seen firsthand the immense power of music in helping to decrease stress, lessen the perception of pain, improve sleep and offer patients and visitors something positive to focus on.

Interestingly, Karen’s connection to the Sentara Brock Cancer Center doesn’t stop there. She’s also a patient who’s been battling breast cancer since 2020. “I lost both my mother and my grandmother to breast cancer, and because of the excellent oncology care I receive from Sentara, I expect to be the first survivor in my family,” Karen relates.

Karen’s unique role as both a therapeutic musician and patient helps further strengthen her connection with those for whom she plays. “Sharing the healing power of music is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Hearing that I’ve calmed a patient or soothed someone’s spirits during a difficult time is so powerful,” Karen concludes.

Karen’s gift of music is made possible by your charitable contributions to the Sentara Foundation. Support programs and services at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center help patients and their families throughout the region.