The beginning of Lily Knecht’s senior year of high school was supposed to be the symphony of her young life — a time of celebration, college applications, and looking ahead to her future. But her life’s melody was interrupted when she suffered what she thought was a knee injury while at the beach with her family.
Several months later, and still in pain, Lily went in for an MRI. Instead of an injury, her doctor discovered a mass — osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Suddenly, her world shifted into a somber key, overshadowed by cancer treatments, multiple surgeries and uncertainty.
“It was the last thing we expected. My whole family was shocked. We didn’t have much experience with cancer, especially something as rare as bone cancer,” recalls Lily. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to lose my hair.’ Which, looking back seems so small but felt devastating as a high school girl.”
Lily’s care was a true team effort with the region’s top cancer, orthopedic and pediatric specialists at Atrium Health. Her diagnosis meant she needed to start chemotherapy right away at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. That was followed by surgery at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute with her orthopedic oncology specialist and surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Kneisl, with Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute.
“Lily had osteosarcoma in her tibia or shinbone. This type of cancer in this location is rare, with an incidence of about one in a million,” says Dr. Kneisl. He specializes in bone and soft tissue tumors, including rare and complex sarcomas. “The surgical procedure was 7 to 8 hours long and required several steps — resection of bone, reconstruction of the knee joint with a metal prosthesis and reconstruction of the knee muscle mechanism.”
Faced with recovery from the surgery and a challenging treatment ahead, Lily admits that she became discouraged. But that all changed when Lily’s recovery team introduced her to a new therapy.
Finding Hope in a New Key
As Lily adjusted to the rhythm of chemotherapy treatments at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, she was introduced to music therapy, a service designed to help patients cope through the healing power of music. For Lily, those music sessions quickly became a lifeline.
“I’ve always been involved in music. I sang in my church and school choirs throughout middle and high school. Singing is my primary instrument, and I attended arts programs in the summer,” says Lily. “Music was a core part of who I was, and after my diagnosis, I felt like I’d lost a part of myself. Music therapy helped me reconnect with that creative side.”
Her music therapist tailored sessions to Lily’s personal tastes, playing her favorite songs to lift her spirits, manage stress and ease her physical pain.
“One that really stands out is ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen. It’s a song I loved growing up, and I remember singing it with my music therapist. My mom even recorded a video of us harmonizing together — it was such a special moment,” Lily remembers.
But those sessions struck a deeper chord for Lily, whose successful treatment had her once again thinking about her future.
“I knew I loved music but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it,” she says. “Once I learned about music therapy, it just clicked.”
A Note from the Past
Lily’s love of music therapy and desire to pursue it as a career made its way back to Dr. Kneisl, who couldn’t help but think of another patient he had treated two decades earlier — someone whose journey mirrored Lily’s in an almost surreal way.
That patient was Mason Swimmer. He, too, had battled osteosarcoma and undergone the same life-altering surgery on his tibia. Just like Lily, Mason’s recovery was aided by music therapy. Inspired by his experience, he pursued a career as a music therapist at Atrium Health. Today, Mason is 20 years cancer-free and helping patients at Atrium Health Mercy, as his music therapist had helped him.
“Lily was very expressive about her fears, which made it easier for me to connect her with therapies like music,” recalls Dr. Kneisl. “Her openness stood out, and she reminded me a lot of Mason.”
Striking the Right Chord
When Mason met Lily, their connection was instant. They shared not only the experience of battling cancer but also an enduring belief in the power of music to heal.
“After my surgery, Mason surprised me by visiting my hospital room,” says Lily. “He played guitar, talked with me and showed me his surgical scar to reassure me that I’d be OK. It was incredibly encouraging.”
Mason saw the same spark of determination in Lily that had driven him years earlier. He encouraged her to follow her passion, sharing his experiences and offering guidance as she prepared for her future in music therapy.
For Lily, that meeting was pivotal. Mason’s story became a source of inspiration and reassurance that she could not only recover but thrive — and someday help others do the same.
Music Therapy: A Perfect Harmony of Music and Healing
After nearly 20 years as a music therapist, Mason has seen just how much music therapy heals.
“It’s life-changing. Music therapy can improve motor function, help regain speech and reduce pain or anxiety,” says Mason. “There’s even specialized training for neurologic music therapy, used in cases like brain cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.”
He has even provided music therapy support in the emergency department during procedures like laceration repairs. He also recalls a patient who was almost completely nonverbal.
“One that stands out was a patient admitted with catatonic depression. She hadn’t spoken in months, according to the nursing staff. When I introduced myself and explained music therapy, she gave slow nods to show she was receptive but didn’t engage much,” says Mason.
He asked her if she had sung before, and she nodded when he asked if she might have sung in church. He chose “Amazing Grace” as a song to share with her, thinking it might resonate.
“As I sang, she slowly started singing along. It was the first time she’d vocalized in months,” he remembers. “I continued seeing her over the next couple of weeks, and with every session, she became more engaged and lighthearted. She eventually shared memories about singing in church and her time as a schoolteacher. We even played musical games together, and she started laughing and connecting. It was an incredible transformation.”
Lily’s Crescendo
Today, Lily is a senior at Queens University, pursuing a degree in music therapy. It is the same program from which Mason graduated and the one that he recommended to Lily. She hopes to share similar experiences one day. She says that she looks forward to completing her studies and has already started looking for internships within Atrium Health.
Lily is determined to use her experience — both the hardships and the healing — as a foundation for helping others through their darkest moments. Her journey has come full circle, from patient to future practitioner, and she is learning to compose her life anew … blending memories of resilience, hope and purpose into something deeply meaningful.
Learn more about Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute and Atrium Health Levine Children’s and the teams that worked together to care for Lily and help her thrive.
