Erin Savage Erin Savage is a typical 17- year- old in many ways. She attends Irmo High School. Her life revolves around her social calendar and dreams of the future, and she talks deep into the night on the telephone. She wants to be a singer or an actor and babysits for spending money. She can see herself as a teacher when she grows into adulthood.

Erin takes photographs with her grandmother and leans on her circle of friends when things are tough. And things sometimes get tough. Erin also has Cystic Fibrosis.

Her mother Laurie Still left the military when Erin was born because she knew taking care of her daughter would be a full time job. Erin spent the first three months of her life in the hospital where she was diagnosed with the disease. Since her 14th birthday, Erin has been in the hospital twice a year every year for antibiotic therapy.

Cystic Fibrosis is hereditary and affects the lungs and digestive system. Erin is one of 30,000 U.S. citizens with Cystic Fibrosis, but she has a much better prognosis than someone who had the disease 50 years ago when few lived past elementary school age. Current treatments and research hopefully will allow people like Erin to live long and normal lives.

Erin has many interests in performing arts but has taken to songwriting like Neko Case. Her musical favorites are Thriving Ivory, Colbie Caillat, Lincoln Park, Demi Lovato, and Taylor Swift, who is also her hero. Two of her original songs are "Come Back to Me" and "Just a Boy."

Becca Rietz, who is the musical therapist at Baptist children's Hospital, saw Erin light up when she picked up a guitar, and Rietz was impressed with her songs. She knew Laurie and Erin couldn't afford a good guitar.

A call to Vicki Whitehead with the Musician's and Songwriter's Guild (MSGSC) put the problem solving into motion. The guild has a program that takes unwanted or damaged guitars, refurbishes them, and delivers them to deserving future musicians. Besides, having Vicki involved is almost a guarantee for a successful problem resolution.

The MSGSC didn't have any funds on hand for Erin so a special lottery at the J. Edwards Birthday Bash raised the necessary money. Last week, Whitehead presented Erin with her new guitar.

The nurses and other staff members at the hospital were as excited as Erin.

Music as therapy is definitely a healing force. The folks at Palmetto Richland Children's Hospital understand this and use music whenever it is possible. People like Erin Savage are the beneficiaries.

For more information visit; http://ch.palmettohealth.org/

To donate a guitar or join the Musicians and Songwriter's Guild, visit http://scsongwriters.com.