Fight songs: Why transplant patients battling for life deserve positive anthems, too

Music has long been used to motivate athletes and soldiers, yet transplant patients—who face some of life’s most profound physical and emotional battles—rarely choose positive anthems to motivate themselves. As a liver transplant recipient and peer-support facilitator with the Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), I have witnessed how personal “fight songs” help patients reclaim strength, identity, and hope during recovery. Drawing from the experiences of 10 transplant recipients who shared their fight songs and the meanings behind them, we explored how music fosters resilience and coping throughout the transplant journey. Patients described their songs as lifelines during isolation, dialysis, or recovery—reminders that they were “still breathing, ” “still standing, ” and “still fighting.” A word-cloud analysis of recurring lyrics revealed shared themes of survival, gratitude, and renewal. These songs were not about illness, but about transcendence. Incorporating discussions of music and meaning into transplant care may humanize the medical experience and strengthen emotional recovery. Selecting a fight song can be another tool that healthcare providers recommend to empower transplant patients.