Teen uses gift of song to overcome battle against leukemia
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Going through cancer treatments can be extremely difficult for any child or teen battling the many forms of the disease. So a unique music program was developed to help patients get through their journey a little bit easier.
On April 29, 2015, Sophia Anagnostou received a frightening diagnosis.
"The only news I knew about cancer was that people died. And that scared me," Sophia told us.
At only 12 years old, she and her family learned the devastating news. Dr. Deborah Shardy is a physician at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, West Campus.
"Sophia has a type of Leukemia called pre B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia," she said.
Dr. Shardy says it's a treatable type of Leukemia.
"Sophia and her family were really concerned. Very scared. I tried to reassure them that we know a lot about treating this type of leukemia" Dr. Shardy said.
"They said that there was a 90 percent chance that you were going to be fine. And that kind of reassured me that I would be OK," Sophia said.
So for the next year and a half, Sophia has been going to Texas Children's for treatments. During her journey, she discovered Purple Songs Can Fly, a music program at the hospital that allows patients to create their own songs.
"When Sophia found out about the program, she became involved in writing her own song and recording it. But she took it one step further," Dr. Shardy said.
Sophia made a music video with her friends.
"It's starts off in the hospital as if I'm getting my treatment, or I'm sick and getting antibiotics. Then it shows I don't have strength in the muscles. I have strength in the soul," Sophia explained.
On top of appearing in the music video, her closest friends have been by her side when she's here for treatments. With less than a year left, Sophia is looking forward to that last day of treatment.
"I'm in maintenance which is kind of like the last phase, and I'll go during treatment until August 21 of next year," Sophia said.
