It's Sunday Evening...July 7th...on Friday I drove with a Friend to see her Mom who suffers from Alzheimer and has been in Assisted Living for about 18 months. I offered to play my Harp for her Mom and she was pleased I could fit it in last week.
When I first got to the Assisted Living, her Mom was in an Activity Room with about 6 other Residents. They were watching TV, or sleeping in their Wheelchairs. I introduced myself to her Mom, and told her I was going to play the Harp for her back in her room. This lady in the room said, "I want you to play music for me"....I still feel bad about not going in that room when I was finished that afternoon.
This was a good experience for me...I learned some things on Friday about myself, my Harping and about my Patient. As I was unpacking my Harp in this room with 2 Residents, I realized I didn't have much room for my Case, Harp Cart and enough room to put together my Harp Stand and Chair. Next time, I will go to the Nurse's Station and ask if there is an area I could unpack and leave my Harp Gear while I am playing. Even though it was "tight", I managed to get set up. My Patient's Roommate is very sick from Cancer and my Friend told me she is in pain most of the time and can't sleep.
My Patient was in a Wheelchair next to her Bed and her Husband was sitting in the Chair with my friend sitting on the bed. My Patient is Blind and cannot speak, so I went to her and rubbed her arm and told her I was ready to Play the Harp for her...her Roommate was resting, but I knew the Harp Music would be soothing so I didn't tell her I was going to play.
I started playing in the key of F...that is my Resonate Tone...the Tone that makes me feel good inside, especially when I am playing the Harp. I played slowly and watched my Patient as I played. She was listening...I could see it in her body language. She was no longer moving her head in a restless manner, but had rested her head back and I watched her eyes dart about when I played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".....my friend asked if she wanted me to keep playing...squeeze once for no...twice for yes...it was a double squeeze! When I played "Jesus Loves Me" and transitioned into "Amazing Grace" her right foot was moving with the Music. Her entire body was relaxed and there was a Peaceful Aura in the Room.
Her Roommate woke up, looked around and I introduced myself to her....she said she loved the music and went into a deep peaceful sleep, one that my Friend had not seen her enjoy for a very long time....relief from Pain. oh, and my Patient's Husband....yep, he's dozing in his Chair!!
I played for about an hour...moving from the Key of F, to C to G, to D....some familiar tunes and some Celtic and less familiar music. When I was ready to leave, I told her I would come back and her eyes were darting around and she was trying to speak. I asked her if she wanted me to play "Over the Rainbow" one more time.....so I did.
When my friend was leaving she told her Mom that she loved her.... her Mom mouthed the words "I Love You" with her breath...which she had not done in a very long time. I left there with such Peace. Whatever force has put me on this path, is a strong one. There is no doubt that I am walking on the right Path......
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