What kind of music do you love, and who are some of your favorite artists or bands?

I really like a lot of genres of music and will listen to most kinds. But out of all of them I love country music the most. I am partial to older country with some younger artists as well. Some of these include, Alan Jackson, Charley Crockett, Johnny Cash, Colter Wall, Zach Bryan, Tyler Chillers, Toby Keith. I could probably name some more off the top of my head, but with these artists there are some songs that I could listen to on repeat including:

o Alan Jackson: Chattahoochee, Johhny Cash: Hurt, Colter Wall: Sleeping on the Blacktop, Tyler Chillers: Lady May, and Zach Bryan: Oklahoma Smoke show.

There’s many more, but these artists and their music has inspired me to continue playing my guitar and pulling from their hits, to what I would want my own music to be based off.

What was your relationship with music like before your cancer diagnosis?


Before my cancer diagnosis I listened to music all the time. I started learning guitar in 8th grade and kept on trying to learn new things. I played in band in high school and was always interested in trying to be better at playing. I always wanted to be able to write my own music and be able to make a song but that is challenging for me. After diagnosis, it was hard because of the neuropathy I couldn’t play the guitar as much, I was weak and fatigued and playing what I loved became a challenge. But working through that, I almost had to relearn the instrument and teach my hands what to do again. Because of that, I feel like I am closer to music, after working through and sticking with something I loved it has made it more enjoyable to learn and play.

Can you share a little bit about your cancer story?

I was diagnosed January 6, 2020, with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This was my second semester of junior year of high school, and it hit me hard. I went through intense rounds of chemotherapy, and it was hard not just physically but mentally as well. I could probably write a book over everything that has happened since diagnosis but keeping it short. Since diagnosis and spending my time in the clinic and hospitals, it changed my perspective on what I want to do with my life. Which has led me to where I am now, studying to go to medical school to pursue a career in Pediatric Oncology. I have enjoyed what I have learned thus far and even though cancer fought to break me down, I am using those hard memories and having it as a drive to continue on this path to one day give back and help others, working to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

Did your experience with cancer change your relationship with music in any way?

I have always had a strong passion for music, and cancer was not going to change that. While in the hospital there was a musical therapist that allowed me to play the ukelele in my room and play around with garage band, which was a great thing to have at the time, because sitting in a hospital bed for months on end is not that entertaining. I did have some challenge though and I still must work through it today. The neuropathy in my hands had gotten so bad that I couldn’t write, it was hard to really use my hands at all, this led to me not being able to play my guitar as much as I would have liked. But I have gotten better, I had to relearn some aspects and still working on others. The challenge of hands cramps while playing though is something that I hope one day will work through. But overall, my love for music is still strong, and after I was put in contact with Kennli, it grew even larger. I don’t have all the time to always get in sessions but that has not stopped me from playing through the day as a way of relaxing and looking back that everything that happened was for a reason.

What led you to join Play It Back, and what are you hoping to get out of the experience?

The treatment center that I was a part of at St. Johns Mercy Medical Center, provided me with many great resources and the group of nurses alongside my doctors will always have much love from me for all that they did. One of the nurses provided me with information about Play it Back. She knew that I enjoy playing guitar and sent me the information. After applying and starting sessions I have enjoyed every bit of it since. I have always wanted to be better at creating music and writing songs. There’s so much in my life that I would enjoy being able to make a song about and tell a story through the lyrics. Through Play It Back, I look to grow that aspect and turn it into a strength as something that I could do more of and be able to play and sing in the future for others to hear.

If you had to describe the kind of music you make or want to make, how would you describe it?

The kind of music that I would like to be able to create would fall into a country, classic genre. I do struggle with putting myself out there, but I like to play a warm kind of music, that when you listen to it you can see and feel the story and hear the message that is being put out. To sing about the challenges in life and working to overcome those challenges, would be the type of music that I would want to create.