our story. our messsage.

Zoey   Diana what is zodia?

This story is a chronicle of persistence.
It is proof that if one keeps trying and trying that you can succeed against all perceivable odds.

About twenty-five years ago, the mother-daughter collaborative CD that is a reality today, was just a vague thought. The idea of having their own 64 track digital studio and the freedom to record their vision seemed almost ludicrous. At that time, equipment like that was out of reach for most artists unless they were signed by a major label. And, there were other obstacles for the members of Zodia.  Severe health problems which began in the late 80's and early 90's, would prove to be difficult challenges to overcome. Zoey, just as it seemed her career as a keyboard player would take off, was involved in a car accident in her early twenties which injured her neck. This injury would cause significant pain and nerve damage, subsequently ending her plans of performance at the time. "It was a terrible low point for me and a time of confusion," says Zoey. "I didn't know where I was headed."

Also around that time, Diana was in a battle for her life as well. She was diagnosed with breast cancer ('87) and had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. She had periods of severe weakness and fatigue over the next few years. And, for the first time in her life, Diana had to stop gigging on a regular basis, as it was too strenuous. "This is why we decided to build our own studio, so we could still record our ideas in spite of our health conditions," says Dee. "Where there's a will, there's a way."

Around the early to mid 90's is when the studio began to take shape. This was an exciting time for independent artists, as the equipment was becoming more affordable and the internet was revolutionizing the music industry. Piece by piece, as their budget allowed, they put their studio together. Over approximately a ten year period, Dee and Zoey built the studio, honed their recording skills, graduated from analog to digital, and finished their dream project, which included establishing their own label — Rings True Records™.

Meanwhile, as things were starting to come together for Zodia, Zoey and Dee both experienced a healing. In late '97, Dee had a recurrence of her cancer, which caused her to lose half her left lung. Her doctors basically informed her to "get (her) affairs in order as the prognosis is grim." She was given two treatment options: massive chemo and a bone marrow transplant or tamoxifen.

She chose the tamoxifen treatment which her oncologist did not expect to work in her case. However, Dee was dead set against chemo. If she only had a few months, she said at least she wanted to feel good. However, during this uncertain time, her husband Frank prayed for an angel to heal her. While he was praying for her over 100 miles away at their home in the country, Diana saw the angel while at a prayer group at precisely the moment Frank prayed for the angel to appear. At the next visit to her oncologist, the fluid around her lungs was almost gone and her cancer appeared to be in remission. To this day, her doctors are baffled and claim that her case is very unusual. Diana is a seventeen year cancer survivor and is living proof that miracles do happen!

Zoey's miracle was actually not immediately apparent. In a strange twist of fate, Zoey was on her way to a doctors appointment in a desperate attempt to get relief from her chronic neck pain and numbness in her right arm and hand brought on by the first car accident. Ironically, on her way that morning, she was struck from behind by another motorist, forced across the yellow line into the oncoming traffic and struck again from the front. This accident was so severe that the officer on the scene was surprised their were no fatalities. Long story short, this accident caused her neck to be freed up from old scar tissue and helped to realign the vertebrae. Subsequent physical therapy provided the long awaited relief from the chronic pain and numbness. Finally, after almost 10 years, Zoey was able to play the piano again without pain. Over the next year or so, she regained normal function of her right hand. She was healed. Proof that God works in mysterious ways.

Zodia's message for all souls who cross their path is one of peace, hope love and healing. And, they hope that their struggles, which seemed very much like a curse at their onset, will be an inspiration to others. "By accomplishing this long awaited goal in spite of the odds stacked against us, we hope to be an example to anyone out there who has dreams and thinks that illness or other difficulties will stop them in their tracks. Just take one little step toward your dream each day and you will achieve it. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Rome wasn't built in a day!"

		"I saw my angel again while on a cross-country trip with my husband. When editing the footage, this frame just jumped out at me.  I was amazed and knew instantly that this Being Of Light was my angel and that she was there with me on my trip."  - Diana
The Desert Angel™ taken from a frame of video in 1997 while traveling through the Painted Desert.