Music
has been such an important part of my life. It started when I tried to play the
flute, but my elementary music teacher, Mrs. Van Ness, said my arms were not
long enough, so I played the piano for a while. Mr. Chupay, a neighbor, taught
me.
When I became a
teenager, I played the bass drum and the xylophone in the percussion section of
my high school band. Basically, I wanted to be in Mr. Van Ness’s band so I
could be near my high school sweetheart who played the saxophone. When I had to
carry that bass drum in parades, I practically fell over because I think it
weighed more than I did. Those were the days…to be that thin!
[As I was
compiling this chapter, I learned a new thing about the marching I was once
able to do. I was at a church choir rehearsal and our director, JoAnne, asked
us to march in place as we rehearsed the song so we could get the beat better.
I tried to march, hold my sheet music, and watch her. I lost my balance, almost
hit a pregnant soprano next to me, grabbed the chair in front of me, and felt
my back snap. I hid the pain because I’ve caused enough drama in this setting,
and so I didn’t tell anyone then except Aiden what had happened. I ended up at
several chiropractic appointments and needed both a back brace and a cane. So –
my doctors tell me – no more marching for me. My brain can’t do that much at
one time!]
As
I’ve written about here, I’ve met a few musicians. I was never very good at
playing the piano, xylophone, or drum, but I know good music when I hear it, so
that’s why I’m thankful for meeting musicians.
I thoroughly enjoy
going to my friend Maggie’s gigs when she’s hired to play her guitar at
restaurants and such. Her music has such a calming effect on me.
She sings from her
soul and that’s so obvious. She plays requests so I get to hear John Denver,
Judy Collins, and more. Keep it up, Maggie!
Recently (spring
2016), I went to hear Boz Scaggs play at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in
Kingston, NY. The UPAC has a lot of great shows and concerts. Boz’s warm-up
singer was an excellent guitarist, Jeff LeBlanc. When I had only heard him
perform three songs, I climbed over others in my row to go buy his CDs. His
music touched me. He sings so articulately. His songs resonate well about
things we all have to overcome in life, which is very therapeutic. He was
humorous on the mic, and though he had gone to college to be a middle-school
teacher, he’s touring with Boz Scaggs. Because of how tall and handsome he is,
I doubt any teenage girl would have paid attention in his class. Go listen to
him or get his CDs – he’s extremely gifted.
The music that we
sing at my church, that is selected by a wonderful woman, JoAnne Schubert,
helps me quiet my brain and get closer to God. Though I actually can’t read
music anymore, when I join one of her choirs, I listen carefully to whatever
soprano sits near me, and I copy her. I know it seems funny that I can’t read
music because, as I said, I played instruments and I sang in school choruses
and other church choirs for many years. But, reading music is very hard for me
now due to my brain injury. There’s a lot of words and symbols on sheet music!
So, I mark up
whatever sheets I’m given with lots of arrows and words to remind me how JoAnne
wants it done. If we’re to sing quietly, I write “sh!” in that section. If
we’re supposed to hold some notes for a long time, I draw a big, long arrow to
remind me to do that. I bring the sheets home with me to practice (instead of
leaving them in the pile with everyone else’s). If she requires our attendance
at three rehearsals but offers many dates to choose from, I try to attend all
of them, because I need to. There is a list of some of these excellent songs
and others at the end of this chapter. (Thanks, JoAnne, for all of your help
compiling this list!)
Once, when I
rehearsed with our church choir, I was seated near Marian R., a sweet woman who
sang with us that time. She called herself my “therapy dog,” because I told her
how much my dog keeps me calm. Marian was able to help me keep calm at choir
rehearsals, but even before that, she helped me at Growth Groups (Sunday school
classes). If I over-talked at G.G., I asked her to say, “duct tape” (or “DT”
for short), and when she did, I gave someone else in our group a chance to
speak. Her cues helped me a lot. [I miss her gentle nature SO much now since
she moved away.]
In lots of the
books I’ve read about brain injury, music is stated to be a real helper to our
brain. When my friend Maggie goes to nursing homes to sing to the elderly
there, families tell her what songs their loved one enjoyed and so she learns
them, and plays them for the patient on her guitar. Many times, people with
memory problems sing along with her. That is such a tribute to the brain and
its connections to music. That’s probably why my neurosurgeon wanted me to
listen to music right after the operation and try to remember the words of the
songs I selected.
The three months
that I was not allowed to drive right after my brain surgery, Aiden and/or my
parents drove me everywhere, and I sang along to whatever song was on the
radio. Once, my parents were busy visiting friends, and Aiden couldn’t drive me
one day, so I took a cab to the post office to pay some bills. The cab driver
looked amused as I belted out the song on her radio as she drove me around.
I read somewhere
(maybe a church sign?) that music makes life a symphony when God is the
Conductor. I think that saying helps me remember that God is the One in charge,
and music helps us get through “it.” (Whatever any of us is going through).
I love to watch
old movies to help me remember music better. Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music come to mind for that.
A radio station
near my home called “The Sound of Life” plays excellent Christian music that
helps me as well. That station also has inspiring quotes that I write down and
then post somewhere to read over and over. My favorite one is this: “Your past
is a place of reference, not of residence!” Thanks for that one!
Certain songs on
other radio stations really help me feel better, too. Pharrell Williams’s “Happy”
does just that every time I hear it on the radio. My dog Happy loves it too
because she hears her name in it over and over again (as I sing along).
Once, when I was
at a BIANYS (Brain Injury Association of New York State) Conference, a
facilitator of one of the groups I attended played this song as we sat in a
circle to try to work on feeling better about our new lives.
One participant,
Angela Leigh Tucker, author of a book, Me
Now–Who Next?, about her brain injury, was giggling so much in her chair
she looked radiantly happy. I kept thinking, as I watched her wiggle and
giggle, that I hope someday I can get over this life change as well as she
apparently has. Her book is very inspirational. Her personality is helpful to
be around because she’s not negative like I am. She’s much more appreciative of
surviving. I hope and pray I get to that same “happy place” someday….
The song “I Hope
You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack has also been a big help to me for many years
(long before I even knew that a brain tumor was growing inside my head). The
words, “When you come close to selling out, reconsider,” really saved me one
night. I'm not going to go into too much detail here, but suffice it to
say, that one line from that song saved my life one dark and rainy evening on
the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge in the year 2000.
One
more breakup had just taken place in my very-messed-up love life, and I was
totally “gone.” I have a cousin named Drew, and his girlfriend-at-the-time
helped me through this dark place by getting that song to me so I could hear
those words. Thank you, Mo'! Your love and concern for me has NEVER been
forgotten even though other important things have been.
Now,
back to a happier subject – a wonderful organization that I so enjoy being
uplifted by is The Singing Songbirds. I try to attend a couple of their
performances a year, held at The Fountains at Millbrook, a retirement community
in Millbrook, NY.
The Songbirds
bring together people with disabilities, families, seniors, and/or anyone who
loves to sing. The ability to read music is not necessary because they are
excellently guided by their director, Peter Muir, and his wife, Judith. When I
learn of the dates for their winter and spring performances, I am excited if
I'm able to attend. They sing with such enthusiasm and joy, it's a wonderful
evening. The ride there is beautiful (on New York's Taconic State Parkway) and
reminds me of days gone by when my family drove on it to visit relatives in
Brooklyn when we lived in upstate New York. These performances remind me of
when my students sang for various audiences. If I had more time, I'd join their
group. They seem to be a fun bunch of folks!
As I stated in the
chapter about meeting Aiden, I met him at a karaoke night. I learned to sing to
him the KC and the Sunshine Band’s song “Give It Up.” I had mysophobia, so I
held the mic with napkins (which took a lot of prodding by others for me to
even do). I rarely hear that great song on the radio anymore because it was
popular so long ago. But, when I do, it reminds me of my karaoke performances
when that tumor was “alive and well” in my brain.
Another song that
I only hear every once in a while, but brings me back to a happier time in my
life, is the song “Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers. I still fondly
remember prancing around my parents’ house in Florida with my relatives
mimicking the song like the Scottish guys who sang it.
A song that I hope
someday to be able to sing solo in my church is “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are
Gone).” The version I cry over each and every time it is sung there includes
the words: “my chains are gone; I’ve been set free…. My God, my Savior, has
ransomed me.” I’ve told JoAnne many times that I’ll know when I’m ready to ask
her to help me do it solo. I know that those “chains” are still there, but
maybe this book’s publication will help somewhat with that. This is just one of
the many songs we sing in church that I’ve listed here. I hope they help
someone as much as they have helped me.
Speaking of that,
another thing I’ve witnessed in my church that is pure pleasure for me is when
these two little girls, who sit near me, get up and dance together in the aisle
as our songs are being sung by our worship team and congregation. Watching
these girls enjoy the music that way always makes me feel better emotionally.
The “free spirit” of little ones is so helpful to me.
So, to wrap up the
chapter about music (though there are tons of songs and artists I adore but
didn’t write about), I just need to end by saying that all schools should make
music an important part of the curriculum. Bands, choruses, plays, and other
events that incorporate music are so worthwhile for a child’s well-being.
Remember –
immediately after my brain surgery, I wasn’t told to name objects or people. I
wasn’t told to remember or count numbers. I wasn’t told to read lots of books.
I WAS told to listen to music and sing immediately to help my brain function
optimally again. That right there shows how important music is. It’s
therapeutic.
One of the books I
have listed in my Recommended Books section is The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge, M.D. He stated in this
book that brain scan studies have shown that when the brain is stimulated by
music, the neurons begin to fire in perfect synchrony with it. He goes on to
write that since neurons fire in unison to music, music is a way to change the rhythms of the brain.
He has much more
in his excellent book, some of which I’ve noted in my Recommended Books
section. Throughout my book are stories about how I used music in my classroom.
I also put on some “great productions” at various schools I taught in, with
using music as the focus of what we performed. One example I remember vividly
is a group of students from Pine Plains CSD singing Whitney Houston’s version
of “The Greatest Love of All” with photos of the kids displayed behind them as
they performed. I have this recorded, and though this old VCR tape from the
1980s has faded, I still can see a little bit of it and hear my students sing
this beautiful song about loving yourself. I also vaguely remember a
performance we did there to the song “The Living Years” by Mike and the
Mechanics.
To this day, I get
very weepy when I attend local schools’ play productions, because they remind
me of a happier time in my life. Recently, I had to leave Mary Poppins at the Pine Plains, NY, high school and then The Beauty and the Beast performance at
another local school because I was so upset, I began to cry too loudly. These
are supposed to be fun events, and my demeanor ruins it for any family sitting
near me, so I exit way before the play ends.
I have discussed
this with my doctors, and we all agreed that I have to work on enjoying the
here and now versus missing the past so much that I need medicine to calm down.
I “tested” myself
at a third show. It was another local school, performing The Lion King. I was able to sit and stay for the entire event and
needed no meds to do so. I even went up to the director and told him how
thrilled I was with his show AND how pleased my doctors will be to hear that I
stayed for all the songs.
So, use music to
get better, whether it’s at your church, your stereo, your school, or wherever.
It helps your mind, body, and soul.
Here is a list of songs and
hymns that I've heard sung at my church and elsewhere. They are truly
inspirational, and I've been scribbling down their titles and their performers’
names for three years so I could add them here.
Their words are displayed on
big screens in my church for us to sing along with our worship team. Sometimes
I have to just stand and listen to others around me sing the words because I'm
too emotional to belt them out.
The power of God's music is
such a gift. To quote a publication I read daily entitled Our Daily Bread, “music washes from the soul the dust of everyday
life.” So true!
Another publication entitled Scientific American Mind: Behavior. Brain
Science. Insights also discusses how music feeds the brain through its
power to lift moods and build connections.
To try to reduce some of my
OCD behaviors (on doctor's orders), I have just named my personal favorites
here in random order, not alphabetically. I'm really trying to learn how things
in life don't have to be in “perfect order” to be useful and helpful. I hope
you too hear this musical list and truly listen to the messages the words
deliver [“by” means “sung by”]:
·
“Grace Wins,” by Matthew West
·
“Forgiveness,” by Matthew West
·
“Unfinished,” by Mandisa
·
“Overwhelmed,” by Big Daddy Weave
·
“Eye of the Storm,” by Ryan Stevenson
·
“Victor’s Crown,” by Darlene Zschech
·
“Write Your Story on My Heart,” by Francesca Battistelli [I’ve
done just that in this book.]
·
“Bring the Rain,” by Jonny Diaz
·
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” by Michael W. Smith
·
“How Great Thou Art,” by Stuart K. Hine [This hymn makes me tear
up each time I sing it, because I think it's been sung at most of the funerals
of my family members.]
·
“I Wanna Go Back” by David Dunn [I do too!]
·
“Even If,” by Mercy Me [This song makes me sob, but crying can
help me feel better.]
·
“Control,” by 10th Avenue North
·
“The God I Know,” by Love & the Outcome
·
“We Believe,” by Newsboys
·
“Sometimes I Cry,” by Jason Crabb
·
“Everything That Has Breath,” by Parachute Band
·
“In the Garden,” by C. Austin Miles
·
“You Found Me,” by Passion
·
“It Is Well,” by Matt Redman
·
“East to West,” by Casting Crowns
·
“Tell Your Heart to Beat Again,” by Danny Gokey
·
“Dear Younger Me,” by Mercy Me
·
“Redeemed,” by Big Daddy Weave
·
“Breathe,” by Jonny Diaz
·
“This Is Amazing Grace,” by Phil Wickham
·
“Cornerstone,” by Hillsong Live
·
“Mended,” by Matthew West
·
Any song by Chris Tomlin
·
“All Things Possible,” by Mark Schultz
·
“Walking Her Home,” by Mark Schultz
·
“Remember Me,” by Mark Schultz
·
“Back in His Arms Again,” by Mark Schultz [Can you tell I like
Mark Schultz's music? While working on this book, I met him at a concert at my
church. He touched my shoulder as he walked past me after the performance and
asked, “How are you?”
I said, “Better now,” as he
kept moving with the crowd so he could sign autographs. I was better because
sitting quietly to hear him sing, tell us stories, show his videos, and even
make us all laugh, did make me feel better. I encourage you to listen to his
music or see him in person. It's worth it!]
Then, of course, there are songs on the radio that are not
necessarily spiritual, but also have a very helpful message. Here are some of
my favorites, with their singers:
·
“It’s Over,” by Boz Scaggs [A humorous story is that, even though
I attended a concert of his, and had written about him in this chapter, I had
to ask the crowd at one of my friend Maggie’s gigs who sang this song.]
·
“Hold On,” by Wilson Phillips
·
“You’re the First, the Last, My Everything,” by Barry White
·
“Both Sides Now,” by Judy
Collins
·
“I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack
·
“The Heart of the Matter,” by Don Henley
·
“I Will Survive,” by Gloria Gaynor [And yes, I did!]
·
“Dancing Queen,” by ABBA
·
“So Far, So Good,” by Sheena Easton
·
“The Locomotion,” by Grand Funk Railroad
·
“Hold the Line,” by Toto
·
“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,” by Meat Loaf
·
“Maggie May,” by Rod Stewart
·
“Rhythm of My Heart,” by Rod Stewart [A funny family-story about
this artist that I told during my Grandpa McColl’s eulogy is that once, because
my grandfather was the president of a Scottish society, he was supposed to
introduce a man he called “some Rod guy” at a concert in Florida. Our family
had a good chuckle over Grandpa not knowing who this famous singer was.]
·
“Out of Touch,” by Hall & Oates
·
“Release Me,” by Wilson Phillips
·
“Say What You Need to Say,” by John Mayer [That song helped me
re-connect with my family once upon a time.]
· “I
Think I Love You,” by The Partridge Family. [This is a childhood favorite that
a DJ just played on the radio and brought me happy memories. I pray that David
Cassidy is able to read my book and remember this song because of his diagnosis
of dementia. David – we will ALWAYS remember you!]
· “You
Could Have Been with Me,” by Sheena Easton.
· “Home,”
by Michael Bublé [I’m praying for his young son who was diagnosed with cancer
as I was putting the “finishing touches” on my book.]
· “Believe,”
by Cher
· “Jive
Talkin’,” by The Bee Gees
·
“Forever Young,” by Rod Stewart [The theme song I chaperoned a
senior prom for my elementary school first student, Cliff. The other chaperone
with me was Bobby Jacovino. R. I. P., Bobby!]
·
“Don’t Stop,” by Fleetwood Mac
·
“Piano Man,” by Billy Joel
·
“Country Roads,” by John Denver
·
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” by Elton John and Kiki Dee [This
song was played constantly the summer my family and I were in England, 1976.]
·
“Follow You, Follow Me,” by Genesis
·
“Ride Like the Wind,” by Christopher Cross
·
“All Right,” by Christopher Cross
·
“Last Dance,” by Donna Summer [This song was played at a dance
each last night of the campers’ stay at Ramapo Camp in Rhinebeck, NY, the
summer of 1981. That camp helped me get my first teaching job, because I
learned how to work with special ed. kids. I loved it!]
·
“How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You),” by James Taylor
·
“Steal Away,” by Robbie Dupree
·
“You’re a Friend of Mine,” by Clarence Clemons and Jackson Browne
·
“I Got You Babe,” by Sonny
and Cher [A song Aiden and I used to sing together at karaoke nights.]
·
“Never Gonna Give You Up,” by Rick Astley
·
“Together Forever,” by Rick Astley
·
“Heaven Knows,” by Donna Summer
·
“Cold As Ice,” by Foreigner [The “theme song” for my FINAL
relationship!]
·
“Against All Odds,” by Phil Collins
·
“Baby Hold On” by Eddie Money
·
“You Don’t Know What I Feel,” by Annie Lennox
·
“I’m Still Standing,” by Elton John [The words in this song were
so poignant for me when I heard it on the radio during a tumultuous spring of
2017….]
·
“Treat Me Right,” by Pat Benatar [My theme song for the rest of my
life!]
·
“Mr. Know It All,” by Kelly Clarkson. [Did she sing that about my
love life?]
·
“Amie,” by Pure Prairie League
·
“Can We Still Be Friends?” by Todd Rundgren
·
“You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” by Leo Sayer
·
“She Drives Me Crazy,” by The Fine Young Cannibals
·
“Is This Love?” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
·
“Build Me Up Buttercup,” by the Foundations
·
“September,” by Earth, Wind & Fire
·
“Cecilia,” by Simon and Garfunkel
·
“Waiting in Vain,” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
·
“Same Old Lang Syne,” by Dan Fogelberg
·
“Keep on Loving You,” by REO Speedwagon
·
“Thinking of You,” by Loggins and Messina
·
“I’ll Be There,” by The Jackson 5
·
“Black or White,” by Michael Jackson [I tearfully watched his
funeral, the day after it took place, since on the funeral day, my brain was
being operated on. I watched the funeral over and over in re-runs as I lay in
my NYU hospital bed. I cried each time I saw it, alarming the hospital staff,
who thought I was in physical pain, rather than sometimes in emotional pain over
losing him. I miss him!]
·
“Spirit in the Sky,” by Norman Greenbaum
·
“Sugar, Sugar,” by The Archies
·
“The Sweet Escape,” by Gwen Stefani
·
“This Love,” by Don Henley
·
“Close to You,” by The Carpenters
·
“Maniac,” by Michael Sembello
·
“Shannon,” by Henry Gross
·
“Thunder Island,” by Jay Ferguson
·
“Nice to Be with You,” by Gallery
·
“God Only Knows,” by The Beach Boys
·
“Doctor’s Orders,” by Carol Douglas
·
“I Won’t Give Up,” by Jason Mraz [This was supposed to be my
wedding song with Aiden.]
·
“Rock the Boat,” by The Hues Corporation [One of the many records
we had in my family’s jukebox in our playroom in the house I grew up in, in
Rhinebeck, NY.]
·
“You Light up My Life,” by Debby Boone
·
“Hungry Heart,” by Bruce Springsteen
·
“Surrender,” by Cheap Trick
·
“Waiting for a Star to Fall,” by Boy Meets Girl
·
“Let the River Run,” by Carly Simon
·
“The Greatest Love of All,” by Whitney Houston
·
“The
Living Years,” by Mike and the Mechanics
·
Any song by Carole King [I heard her Tapestry album as a little girl in my uncle Ian’s garage-turned-into–a-”Woodstocky”-bedroom,
in Hampton Bays, NY, so many times that I learned all the words.]
·
Any song sung by KC and The Sunshine Band
·
“My Own Way,” by Jeff
LeBlanc [This is an artist not as well-known as the others listed here,
but, believe me, I think you'll love his music as much as I do. I hope his
musical career takes off!]
[On one of the worst days of my life, in March of 2017, I heard
three songs on three different radio stations that helped me immensely get
through it all.
The first was Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” and the next
song was by The Foundations, “Build Me Up Buttercup.” I’ve written about both
of these in my book, and how they were used in my classes. Hearing them on this
“dark day” reminded me of happy days long ago in my classrooms.
The third song was “Day One” by Matthew West. I had to move on
from a terrible experience. The words in this song got that process started for
me.
I
believe God is in charge of everything, including songwriters, singers, and DJs….]
For the coming year, I (Douglas Winslow Cooper] will be
excerpting, weekly, material from this almost-final version of the fine book by Janet Johnson Schliff, M.S. Ed., which she wrote over a three-year period with some coaching and editing help from me, through my business, Write Your Book with Me.
Her memoir is now available in paperback and ebook formats from Outskirts Press and amazon.com:
What Ever Happened to My White Picket Fence? My Brain Injury from My Massive Brain Tumor
Janet Johnson Schliff was on WKNY Radio 1490 at 9:10 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, Kingston, NY.
Janet spoke at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3 at Barnes & Noble in Kingston, NY. I [DWC] attended, along with about 40 other people. Congratulations to Janet on a fine talk!
Janet Johnson Schliff spoke at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck, NY, at 7 p.m. on March 6.
She spoke at the Golden Notebook Bookstore in Woodstock, NY, at 2 p.m. on March 17.
She spoke at the Morton Library in Rhinecliff, NY, at 6:30 p.m. on March 28.
She spoke at RCAL in Kingston, NY, at 4 p.m. on April 3. I was able to attend. They gave her an impromptu book-launch party.
On 4/4/18 Janet spoke at the Parkinson's Support Group at the Starr Library at Rhinebeck at 2:30 p.m.
On 4/27/18 Janet spoke at the Stone Ridge Library at 5:30 p.m.
On 5/4/18 Janet spoke at the Hurley Library at 6 p.m.
On 5/9/18 Janet spoke at the Kingston Library at 6 p.m.
On 5/14/18 Janet spoke at the Staatsburg Library at 7 p.m.
On 5/31/18 Janet spoke at the Clinton Community Library at 6:30 p.m.
On 6/9/18 Janet spoke at the Tannersville Mountain Top Library at noon.
On 6/11/18 Janet spoke at the Gardiner Library at 7 p.m.
On 6/20/18 Janet spoke at the Marbletown Community Center at 6 p.m.
On 7/13/18 Janet spoke at the Esopus Library at 7 p.m.
On 7/20/18 Janet spoke at the Pine Plains Library at 6 p.m.
On 7/23/18 Janet spoke at the Ulster Library at 5:30 p.m.
On 8/11/18 Janet spoke at the Northern Dutchess Bible Church in Red Hook at 1:00 p.m.
On 9/06/18 Janet spoke at the Inquiring Minds Bookstore in New Paltz at 7 p.m.
On 9/15/18 Janet spoke at the Adriance Library in Poughkeepsie (93 Market St.) at 2:30 p.m.
On 9/21/18 Janet was interviewed on the radio at station WRIP-FM (97.9) at 8 a.m.
On 9/22/18 Janet spoke at the Tannersville Mountain Top Library, at noon.
On 9/28/18 Janet spoke at the Enchanted Cafe in Red Hook at 7 p.m.
On 10/04/18 Janet will be speaking at the Hyde Park Library Annex at 7 p.m.
On 10/14/18 Janet will be participating in an Author Weekend at the Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On 10/22/18 Janet will be speaking at the Tivoli Library in Tivoli at 5:30 p.m.
On 11/07/18 Janet will be speaking at the Germantown Library in Germantown at 6:00 p.m.
More signings will be coming up. A fine feature about Janet by John DeSantos [845 LIFE] appeared in the Middletown Times Herald-Record on Monday, March 12, as part of Brain Injury Awareness Month. An article about her book was just published in the May 2018 Living Rhinebeck Magazine. An article about her book appeared in the May 14 Daily Freeman of Kingston, NY. and another in the Family Life section of the Poughkeepsie Journal on June 8th. The Millerton News published an article on Thursday, August 2, about her talk at the Pine Plains Library.
