Sunday Morning, March 23, 2014……cloudy but MILD!!! whoohooo spring is in the air, well actually they are calling for snow on Tuesday, but our cup is 1/2 full
Today is Tuesday, March 25th and I will finish this posting, lol
Friday was a very emotional day for me, in a good way. Each Facility I work at has it's special Patients that grab me, some more than others. I will say, this Facility I worked at yesterday always welcomes me with such heart-felt gratitude and joy. I could never have a bad day there. Not only will the Front Office Staff jump for joy when I carry my Harp in, but the Director will come out of the office and tell me how happy she is to have Therapeutic Music for "her" patients. This enthusiasm trickles down to the Kitchen Employees and the Maintenance Staff. So, I actually start my work there on such an upbeat. (pun intended)
I was in another Facility earlier in the week and a man stopped me in the hallway and asked if I played my Harp at a particular facility….I told him yes and he just grinned, and told me he was a patient there and he remembered me playing in the Therapy Room for a small group of Patients receiving Therapy. He said he was now in this new Facility receiving Therapy so I promised I would stop by his room and play for him next week…..such a small world. As I traveled down the hallway a Doctor came up to me and said, "I saw you yesterday at another Facility, so happy you share your Music".
I was waiting for my first Patient to receive her Meds so I walked to the end of the hallway and looked in on a Patient I was unfamiliar with. She was elderly, on oxygen and propped up in bed with the TV on. I set up my Harp outside her room to see if I would get any reaction. As I played, I saw only facial expressions change but this is enough to let me know she is hearing me and interested. I took my Harp into her room and set up next to her bed. She listened and after a few minutes tried to raise her head enough to look at me. When she did, she smiled and sank back down into her bed. I was so touched by this incredible effort to make contact with me. I requested she be added to my Patient List.
I made my way back to my first patient and she was in bed. I have played for her several times and the best reaction I have ever had with her was when she was sitting up in a wheelchair. She was alert and engaged. Her roommate was also still in bed so perhaps they were short-staffed and late getting everyone up, it happens. The roommate is an interesting patient, she had a stroke that damaged the language area of the brain. She talks with great inflection in her voice, but can only utter the sound "da". She understands everything and appears to be very intelligent. She loves music and loves her roommate and tries to take care of her. I asked my patient if she wanted to sing with me and she smiled and said, "alright". As I chose my tunes to fit the needs of my patient, I decided to start with a couple Hymns. A minute or two later my Patient was singing with me and she continued to sing most of the tunes for the next 30 minutes. Each time we would finish a tune, her roommate would clap and in her own way, express "good job"! "daaaaaaa da" I love these 2 ladies. If the roommate like the tune a lot, she will say "daaaaaaaaaa" with a sigh.
On to my next area of Patients. I found 3 of them together in the Day Room, along with 4 other Patients. I decided to set up in the room and play for the group. There is a Patient that rarely speaks. Some of the Staff has never heard her. But I was told she sings "Amazing Grace" with her Daddy when he comes for a visit. I have heard her speak her name and I have heard her sing a few words. It's exhilarating. There was an employee from upper management in the room, I believe covering for the Activities Director who was on vacation. So as I played my harp, this patient that never speaks started to sing. The Staff member was so overjoyed, she pulled up a chair and we sang as I played and the patient sang. She has a surprisingly good voice, very soft and velvet like. The other Staff would step into the room and just stand there listening and smiling.
About 30 minutes later one of the Aides brings in a Patient that I just adore. This is a Patient that visually you must look past her crippled body and distorted features. She is not easy to look at, but has a heart as big as the oceans and although she can not sing words, she makes sounds to the tunes and just grins from ear to ear. I told her I was so happy she came into the room because she always makes my day brighter…….she gave me the most beautiful smile. Again, the Staff Member was floored that this Patient was so engaged with me and the music.
I spent 45 minutes in the Day Room with my Patients and while I played, 2 Doctors came in and just listened and smiled and hummed a little. The Nursing Staff are lighter on their feet, speak softly and hum a tune while they go about their jobs….taking care of these sometimes, "lost souls". Many of the Patients at this Facility have no family are are wards of the State. It's heartbreaking that they will spend what's left of their lives in this Facility. The fact that I can make music that helps them recall happy memories, diverts their pain and discomfort, give compassion and hope to their day, if only for a few minutes, makes my job so rewarding.
I will say this a million times in my lifetime, "I wish I could be there 24/7 for all my Patients", as it is very difficult to walk away. But I also know my limits on my body and also my spirit. I have learned to take care of myself so that I can continue this work. Each day is filled with emotions that help me understand myself better and help me grow to find the important things in my life and not loose sight of my many blessings.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Small Bits of Joy
Tuesday morning, March 11, 204….a little tease from Mother Nature today….near 70o, I'll take it and not complain about the rest of the week that will be rainy and cold :)
Last Thursday as I went about my day and patient list, I was thinking about how special the patients are and how much they add to my life. I normally start with individual patients and work my way to the Unit Desks late in the afternoon. It seems that the "sundown syndrome" starts around 4pm and the staff can really use Therapeutic Music as they gather the "hard to handle" patients at the desk…an easier way to keep an eye on them and keep them safe. But with that said, it's also a rowdy crowd.
My first patient was a man I have played for several times. I stood in his doorway to get a feel for the environment and he was sitting in a wheelchair, staring straight ahead, no TV, no Music. I was thinking to myself, "how long can one sit with no stimulation?" I knocked on the door and he was happy to have harp music. He loves all the old standards of the 40's and some classical so after I played I asked if he enjoyed it. He opened his eyes and said, "the music is like a key that winds up my emotions, it lets me live again." Mission accomplished
As I am headed down the hall I see there are several patients at the Unit Desk, more than usual for so early in the day. It was loud and hectic. I decided to set up there next and hopefully give the area a little peace…NOT One of the patients decided my name was Lucy and immediately told me to "shut up". I had a gentleman on either side of me and no one was talking. I continued to play, trying different tunes that I thought might strike a chord with Ms. Grouchy, but she continued to tell me "stop playing those strings or I will come over there and slap your head" She was asking how much Ice Cream she would need for the party…..so as I played she continued to ask about the Ice Cream and said, "you should have practiced that thing before the party, if you don't stop playing those strings I'm coming over there and wrap them around your head." Ok, by this time most of the Staff are trying to hold it in and so was I. I decided to play Happy Birthday and that was the ticket!!! You could hear a pin drop! The man on my right looked at me and said, "thank-you, she finally shut up". Can I tell you, how that 30 minutes stayed with me for the remainder of the day. Every time I thought about it I would just smile.
I played for a beautiful woman, probably in her late 80's in late stages of Alzheimer's . She was so gracious, offering me a chair when I entered the room. I told her I had my own stool and she was pretty impressed that I carried it with me. :) I notice her roommate, closest to the door was unresponsive and on oxygen. I knew this resident and I could tell she had taken a downward spiral. As I played for my patient, she waved her arms in the air to the music, barely having the strength to do so. At one point, it was so loud in the hallway I got up and quietly shut the door all but a couple inches. As I was walking back to my harp the UNRESPONSIVE patient starts screaming at the top of her lungs, "OPEN THE DOOR….OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW, DO YOU HEAR ME, OPEN THAT DOOR"….OK, I jumped 3 feet in the air, scared the life out of me. I opened the door. After I finished playing, my patient tried to hand me something but there was nothing in her hand. She thanked me for coming and asked her Husband to see me to the door. She apologized for not being able to see me out, as her neck hurt and she needed to rest. What a fine Lady she was.
As for the unresponsive roommate, her Daughter and Son-in-law came to the room as I was leaving and I have talked to them many times in the hallway and dining room. I told them I played for the roommate but she could still hear the music and how I had tried to shut the door. They both looked at each other and started laughing, the Daughter said, "DON'T SHUT THE DOOR." The three of us were outside in the hallway just laughing it up. Families go through so much and it's wonderful when you can make light of a very difficult and heartbreaking situation.
Yesterday I was playing piano in the Dining Room for my Companion and there was a man that wheeled himself close to the piano. I did not recognize him, nor did he speak or smile while I played. To be honest, I felt like I was not playing the tunes he loves, as I concentrate on my Companion's love of Beatles, Stones, Dylan and 50's love songs. (ok, I admit I love all these too) but when I was done, he said, "thank you for your music, you made my day a little brighter, and my afternoon zip by a little quicker, I appreciate that." Small bits of joy that I carry with me each day.
Last Thursday as I went about my day and patient list, I was thinking about how special the patients are and how much they add to my life. I normally start with individual patients and work my way to the Unit Desks late in the afternoon. It seems that the "sundown syndrome" starts around 4pm and the staff can really use Therapeutic Music as they gather the "hard to handle" patients at the desk…an easier way to keep an eye on them and keep them safe. But with that said, it's also a rowdy crowd.
My first patient was a man I have played for several times. I stood in his doorway to get a feel for the environment and he was sitting in a wheelchair, staring straight ahead, no TV, no Music. I was thinking to myself, "how long can one sit with no stimulation?" I knocked on the door and he was happy to have harp music. He loves all the old standards of the 40's and some classical so after I played I asked if he enjoyed it. He opened his eyes and said, "the music is like a key that winds up my emotions, it lets me live again." Mission accomplished
As I am headed down the hall I see there are several patients at the Unit Desk, more than usual for so early in the day. It was loud and hectic. I decided to set up there next and hopefully give the area a little peace…NOT One of the patients decided my name was Lucy and immediately told me to "shut up". I had a gentleman on either side of me and no one was talking. I continued to play, trying different tunes that I thought might strike a chord with Ms. Grouchy, but she continued to tell me "stop playing those strings or I will come over there and slap your head" She was asking how much Ice Cream she would need for the party…..so as I played she continued to ask about the Ice Cream and said, "you should have practiced that thing before the party, if you don't stop playing those strings I'm coming over there and wrap them around your head." Ok, by this time most of the Staff are trying to hold it in and so was I. I decided to play Happy Birthday and that was the ticket!!! You could hear a pin drop! The man on my right looked at me and said, "thank-you, she finally shut up". Can I tell you, how that 30 minutes stayed with me for the remainder of the day. Every time I thought about it I would just smile.
I played for a beautiful woman, probably in her late 80's in late stages of Alzheimer's . She was so gracious, offering me a chair when I entered the room. I told her I had my own stool and she was pretty impressed that I carried it with me. :) I notice her roommate, closest to the door was unresponsive and on oxygen. I knew this resident and I could tell she had taken a downward spiral. As I played for my patient, she waved her arms in the air to the music, barely having the strength to do so. At one point, it was so loud in the hallway I got up and quietly shut the door all but a couple inches. As I was walking back to my harp the UNRESPONSIVE patient starts screaming at the top of her lungs, "OPEN THE DOOR….OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW, DO YOU HEAR ME, OPEN THAT DOOR"….OK, I jumped 3 feet in the air, scared the life out of me. I opened the door. After I finished playing, my patient tried to hand me something but there was nothing in her hand. She thanked me for coming and asked her Husband to see me to the door. She apologized for not being able to see me out, as her neck hurt and she needed to rest. What a fine Lady she was.
As for the unresponsive roommate, her Daughter and Son-in-law came to the room as I was leaving and I have talked to them many times in the hallway and dining room. I told them I played for the roommate but she could still hear the music and how I had tried to shut the door. They both looked at each other and started laughing, the Daughter said, "DON'T SHUT THE DOOR." The three of us were outside in the hallway just laughing it up. Families go through so much and it's wonderful when you can make light of a very difficult and heartbreaking situation.
Yesterday I was playing piano in the Dining Room for my Companion and there was a man that wheeled himself close to the piano. I did not recognize him, nor did he speak or smile while I played. To be honest, I felt like I was not playing the tunes he loves, as I concentrate on my Companion's love of Beatles, Stones, Dylan and 50's love songs. (ok, I admit I love all these too) but when I was done, he said, "thank you for your music, you made my day a little brighter, and my afternoon zip by a little quicker, I appreciate that." Small bits of joy that I carry with me each day.
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