GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Sharlet Alagia came to Mary Free Bed four days after being hit by a car and undergoing emergency surgery to repair her spinal cord. She could only wiggle her toes.

By the end of her three week recovery care at the Grand Rapids rehabilitation hospital, she was walking.

Her treatment included music therapy.

"It was pivotal to helping me walk again," said Alagia, 57, of Battle Creek. "The music was calming, it was motivating, it made me feel like I could do this. I'm never going to forget this experience. I've got my legs back."

Music is now part of patient care at Mary Free Bed thanks for to a generous gift from the Doornink Foundation, which is underwriting a music therapy program that improves rehabilitation outcomes.

Launched in the last year, new music therapy program is used for everything from improving attention span and memory to easing anxiety and depression.

The therapeutic approach is individualized to each patient and may consist of singing or rhythmic chanting, playing instruments and composing songs.

Peter Muszkiewicz is a board-certified music therapist who works with patients individually and in tandem with physical, occupational, speech-language and recreational therapists.

In Alagia's case, Muszkiewicz collaborated with physical therapist Chris Boer, accompanied by Adele tunes and even a little rap.

A steady musical rhythm improved her step pattern, timing and stability.

Under the umbrella of Mary Free Bed's Recreational Therapy Department, music therapy uses clinical and evidence-based live-music sessions to facilitate recovery from a traumatic injury or illness.

"Music therapy is not entertainment," said Muszkiewicz, who works with patients of all ages and varying diagnoses.

He graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor of music.

Mary Free Bed also partners with the Grand Rapids Symphony's Music for Health initiative to provide special visits by symphony musicians. Muszkiewicz leads these live musical performances.