Uses of Songs for the Inner Child with Life-threatening Illnesses

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Songs for the Inner Child Healing and Recovery Uses

I have received many letters and phone calls sharing with me that the songs have been used extensively with AIDS and cancer patients. As you'll see below, they have also been a gift to those who deal with chronic illness.

The songs have proven to be a source of comfort during difficult procedures, a support to self-esteem if there has been disfigurement and/or other losses as a result of the illness, ("How could anyone ever tell you you were anything less than beautiful...") and a reminder of the presence of spirit for those who are dying.

(Please see the sections With The Dying and Grieving for related stories)

Those who have given permission for their letters to be published are listed alphabetically in the menu to the left. You can read their letters by using the links on the menu or by simply scrolling down the page.

1. Rachel Caras writes:

Dear Shaina Noll,

My name is Rachel Caras. I am seventeen years old and ever since I was thirteen years old I have been suffering from fibromyalgia. After the western world fail to help me and, in fact, only made me sicker, I completely changed my view of medicine into the alternative world, where instead of being cured, I have been healed.

I have traveled all over the United States, spent most of my teenage years in doctors’ offices, and had to change my way of life. Finally, that is all behind me. With help from inspiring women, like someone who I consider my angel, ReHanna, I can live a normal life. I went to a healing spa called We Care. ReHanna was my BreathWorks instructor and my friend. During every session she played beautiful music that opened up my soul and touched my heart. As a going away present, she gave me a copy of the CD called Songs for the Inner Child. This music has helped me keep a positive outlook on life and to remind me that life is as beautiful as I choose for it to be.

Thank you for teaching me.

Rachel Caras
We Care Holistic Health Center: the Southern California healing spa that Rachel references above.

2. Bernadette Kinniry, RSM, of Siloam Ministries writes:

Dear Shaina,

I am co-founder of a spiritual ministry for persons infected with/affected by HIV/AIDS. A friend introduced me to your music, and I've watched how your words and voice have penetrated deeply into the deepest spirit of persons who have been terribly alienated, and often enough have alienated their own selves. You are an agent of light and grace among us as a people and I, first of all, want to say a warm thank you for what you are doing with your life journey. You obviously are no stranger to the stuff of your own life, which translates into connection with the lives of others.

Secondly, the ministry I've been called to create has been one that has turned me upside down and inside out, for I've met a diversity of God's creation that I've never known existed...and it has been good for me. Our belief is that all persons are by nature spiritual, and we try to offer safe ways for those whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS to simply access their God-given spirituality, for wellness. We have had to make a distinction between spirituality and religion, for so often persons with AIDS have been hurt in the name of religion. I am a Sister of Mercy ('Catholic nun), and I sense the deep hunger for spirituality in our times, that organized religion is not necessarily addressing. It has been astounding what happens when we are connected to that deeper truth, which your songs so gently yet fiercely celebrate.

Continued blessings on you and your loved ones.
Peace.
Bernadette Kinniry, RSM
Siloam Ministries
1133 Spring Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123

Another communication from Bernadette Kinniry:

In October, we had two 3-day retreats for persons living with HIV/AIDS and our many volunteers, and I was, more than ever, amazed and deeply touched/enlightened by what is shared when safety and dignity are present. The group was persons of all faiths, or none in particular, at least none that they felt would claim them,
of all ethnic backgrounds
of all sexual orientations
of all financial brackets
of all educational histories
of all life experiences
of all ages, from mid twenties to seventy-three.
Your music profoundly eeked its way into their familiar defences, underneath, and I could see the reclaiming of a truer self, especially with the songs
"How Could Anyone Ever Tell You"
"It's in Every One of Us"
"Where I Sit Is Holy."
We gifted some of our retreatants with your music, and you would have thought we gave them a healing of their very illness. Thank you!

On November 11, my community of Sisters of Mercy celebrates the death of our loving foundress, Catherine McAuley. At the convent where I live, the sister who led us in prayer chose for the music of our prayer your "The Flower that Shattered the Stone". What a perfect fit. My prayer for this hardened stony time in our country, religions, world is that 'flowers' will continue to shatter what needs to be shattered.

Fondly,
Bernadette Kinniry, RSM
Siloam Ministries
1133 Spring Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123

3. Joan Kleinke writes:

I was introduced to the music of Shaina Noll at an Image Reborn breast cancer retreat in Park City, Utah. I had lost both breasts to pre-cancer, my twin sister had died from breast cancer, and my mother was a breast cancer survivor. I had experienced 28 years of severe health problems culminating in extensive neurosurgery to decompress the spinal cord in my neck, which had been crippling my body slowly and methodically for many years.

Even though it had been 11 years since my breast surgery, I realized that I had not finished accepting my disfigurement, so attended the breast cancer retreat. As part of the retreat the group leader played the song "How Could Anyone" from Shaina's album Songs For The Inner Child. This song was so powerful that it captured my aching heart! The song spoke to me so deeply that I asked the leader if I could borrow the album that night in order to listen to what I called "songs of the heart". Each song spoke deeply to my soul. I was so impressed with the album that I asked the leader to play another song for the group. Their hearts were captured as well. Ten women who had struggled so with the devastation of cancer were touched and received peace, acceptance, and hope from the songs they heard.

Shaina's songs also have the ability to reconnect our hearts to God. Thanks to Shaina's generosity the cancer support group now has copies of her album. Her new album You Can Relax Now is as powerful as Songs For The Inner Child. Shaina's gift of music and song has the ability to accurately depict the feelings of our spiritual and emotional journeys. Her albums carry with them peace and comfort and bring hope in times when hope feels elusive. Shaina, I feel blessed by your generosity and God's gift of song. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Joan Kleinke, Ed.D
Image Reborn:The Renewal Retreat for Women with Breast Cancer that Joan references above.

4. Donna Le, of Southington, Connecticut, writes:

Dear Shaina;

I wanted to tell you the story of how I became acquainted with your CD of Songs for the Inner Child and how it has affected my life.

My life as a child was a very difficult one, filled with pain and emotional upheavals. I became a young unwed mother at the tender age of 18, deserted by the father just weeks before the wedding. The years raising my daughter alone were very difficult and I battled my own insecurities all during that time, often thinking of suicide. My child was the one thread that held me to life.

In 1985 I met the man who would most influence my life, and it brought about many positive changes for me. I am certain he was sent to me from God in heaven. We married in 1990. Life went on like most normal people for the next few years. We had our routine which was for the most part uneventful yet happy. Then came 1998, a most tragic year for myself and my family.

We had already lost both our parents at young ages, both to cancer. In the summer of 1998 I lost a very beloved pet, and one week to the day as I was watching the news on television, I learned that my baby brother died in a drowning accident. Then in January of 1999 I learned I have cancer (I have been in remission since November of 1999). Then in September of 99, my only daughter delivered a beautiful baby daughter (my first granddaughter) and lost her just 4 days later. The pain of that loss was indescribable.

Since then I have read many inspirational books, I have listened to inspirational cassettes and CDs. I have tried to use guided imagery to help keep myself calm and unstressed but since I have received this wonderful CD of yours it has become my number one source of soothing when I find things becoming frightening to me, or when I feel depressed. The moment I heard the song How Could Anyone it was as if I was being touched by one of my many angels. I cried when I heard it. The CD has been a tremendous source of comfort to me. I play it every day, sometimes many times over.

I also thought that if I lose my fight with cancer, that I would like to have this CD played at my services too... and I thought of these things before I read your website. It was nice knowing others felt that way too.

Well, that's about it. I'm sorry this is so long but I wanted you to see just how much this CD has impacted me and how grateful I am that we could find it.

Donna Le, Southington, CT

5. Rest for a Weary Parkinson's Patient :

Dear Shaina;

I have never written a letter of this type before but I had such a profound experience with "Songs for the Inner Child" that I thought as an artist you needed to know that your music is making miracles happen. I ordered your CD on a recommendation from a secretary at a wellness center where I am a patient. Actually I was interested in another performer and his CD and Karen said I needed to check out "Songs for the Inner
Child." So I dipped into my special money for the year and bought on a whim your CD. My husband suffers from Parkinson's and seldom sleeps. He knows two songs "The Star Spangled Banner" and "Happy Birthday."

When I got your CD, I put it on and thought, "Oh, that's nice. Not what I expected, but nice." That night (a hard one for Eddie) he requested the music that I had been playing that afternoon. So I tucked him in for the night (anticipating another night of pain and
trauma) and before "All Through the Night" was finished his body frozen in cramps and his mind filled with distress had quieted and he slept all though the night. It is a nightly request now for his music and I gladly rejoice as again and again his body and mind respond to your music. I don't believe it was an accident that you have given us such a gift.

Thanks,
Glendora

www.ShainaNoll.com
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