His music is his therapy.

A former Broadway Musician Orchestrates his own rehabilitation

Andrew Asch composes music for family and staff members using the computer in his room at Beth Abraham Health Services, a Bronx, N.Y., skilled nursing facility offering subacute rehabilitation. Music has always been Andrew's passion, which he was able to transform into his profession. He played keyboard in the orchestra of the Broadway show, "Les Miserables," and in 1982 performed an original work for string quartet and piano at Carnegie Music Hall. "The New York Times reviewed it favorably," Andrew says. The musician lists Beethoven and the Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, among his heroes and influences.

But Andrew's world was turned upside down six years ago when he collapsed outside his Manhattan apartment. A victim of Lyme disease that had gone unnoticed until the collapse, which resulted in a coma, Andrew is now confined to a wheelchair and his speech is impaired. Compounding the tragedy, he lost most of the dexterity in his fingers.

"I didn't expect this," Andrew, 46, says. "I didn't even know what Lyme disease was." Asked when he thought he got the disease--an infection caused by the bacteria in a tick bite that can result in arthritic, neurologic, and cardiac problems--Andrew responds with humor: "It could have been when I was a Cub Scout or on more recent trips sleeping in the woods. I have no idea."

After his hospitalization, he went to a skilled nursing facility in Massachusetts. But then his brother, Thomas, who lives in The Bronx and teaches guitar, heard about Beth Abraham, a not-for-profit, 520-bed facility, and suggested that Andrew move there to be closer to his family. The composer's room is located on the music therapy floor of Beth Abraham, where the facility's music therapists work to tap remaining cognitive functioning in patients with neurologic disorders and dementia to stimulate memory and enhance communication beyond words. Working in group and individual sessions, therapists use traditional and electronic instruments.

One of Thomas's students gave Andrew a computer with a special music-composing program that is attached to the keyboard. Although Andrew never liked using computers, he has since composed a piece for piano and string quartet and a piece for cello. Above the computer are the busts of Beethoven and Mozart.

Most striking about Andrew is his positive attitude and obvious interest in taking part in his own healing process. The musician performs hand exercises 1,000 times a day. He also practices piano for an hour and has begun to take Tai Chi. "I do all kinds of movement," he says.

Family and staff members marvel at Andrew's commitment. "He was always so independent, such a private person," says Elaine Asch-Root, Andrew's mother. "Now to see what he's lost...But he's accepted it. He's accepted what I can't. He is so beautiful."

Andrew says he feels very comfortable at Beth Abraham. "The food is great," he says, affably volunteering his favorite dish: "Chicken salad." Andrew has developed a close relationship with his social worker and has made friends. "The man across the hall, Baya, is my good friend," he says. "We laugh a lot together. Although antibiotics help, laughter is the best medicine."