Let the story begin. "Musical Morphine: Transforming Pain One Note at at Time"

7/22/2015

My father was dying.

On a whim I brought my guitar to the hospital and sang and played for him.

He was drugged but still in severe pain, confused, disoriented. But I noticed something curious happening each time he heard my music.

His hands, now wrinkled and blotchy, his white knuckles clutching the bed railings for dear life, loosened their grip and fell to his sides. His shoulders and chest, held rigidly against pain, now relaxed. And his wispy breathing deepened and slowed.

I saw his contorted face yield to a soft expression and his eyes close as he descended into a restful, welcome sleep. On occasion he sang with me, smiling with the recognition of so many tunes he had taught me.

Did he respond because I was his daughter. Because I knew his favorite music?

Probably.

But there was something more.

Music Heals. I'd like to hear your experiences. Please comment below.

12 Comments

Lisette de Groot

2/4/2015 12:58:21 am

Your music sounds very calming and peaceful, Robin. I can understand it is very rewarding to help sick or dying patients this way. Keep it up! Lisette

robin

2/5/2015 03:39:28 am

Thanks,Lisette.

Vance Reese

2/4/2015 10:50:14 pm

A friend of mine - a former music history teacher - was dying. I made the trip to Knoxville bringing the Regina Coeli chant that was sung for compline, the pre-bedtime ritual, by the monks of Gethsemane Abbey in Kentucky, a place where my friend frequented.
Although I don't know the precise moment when he died, those around his bedside noticed that his breathing had nearly completely quit during this, and it wasn't long before his body expired.
Other friends of his brought bassoons and played for our dying friend, himself a bassoonist. I always was grateful for this moment of ushering a fellow musician out of this world with music. For me it might be Mozart, or something with a charming simplicity, but then again it might be that moment in the Mahler 4th Symphony in the 3rd movement that depicts the dance of heaven and the gates opening wide.

2/5/2015 03:41:54 am

I just heard Mahler's 4th, and that 3rd movement is indeed the sound of transcendence.

Lisa Houff

2/5/2015 03:16:27 am

Wonderful story, Robin. Jessie recently introduced Terry and me to a singer/songwriter named Melody Gardot who says music saved her life after a horrific accident. For a year she had to re-learn life's basic skills like walking, talking, and brushing her teeth. She said she could not have recovered without music and is now an advocate for music therapy to aid in healing from life threatening illnesses and accidents.

Robin

2/5/2015 03:43:37 am

WOW...this is such a great story of healing. Will look up Melody Gardot.

Mimi Wilms

2/5/2015 07:13:42 am

Great Memoir Robin. Looking forward for more to come. As you know for yourself I love listening to music and it is calming and relaxing. I actually have been listening to my native flute music more often to help me relax my mind and spirit and it does help a lot.

2/7/2015 12:37:04 am

You and I have certainly seen music work together as we have shared so much of our lives and stories.

Sandra Dykes

2/6/2015 12:27:38 pm

My mother suffered a long journey with Alzheimer's. For 7 years we watched a slow and gradual disenegration. Amazingly, she continued to play the piano even when she didn't know her name. As she progressed in her illness, she could no longer play but would sing along and knew every word to hymns I would play for her. Even in her final days, you could see her respond to hymns on the piano and The Messiah. Music reached her when none of us could anymore.

2/7/2015 12:39:57 am

Sandra, what a beautiful story. The music was your mother's life line, her last connection. Neuroscience is saying that the brain is hardwired for melody, rhythm. Right hemisphere, left hemisphere working together. Stunning.

Judy Preusser

2/12/2015 04:52:35 am

I remember very clearly visiting a fellow choir member as she lay dying in a hospice. She had been a cantor with a wonderful voice. I remember the nurses saying that they kept a CD player with some of her favorite music by her bedside because it calmed her, seemed to alleviate the pain a bit and allowed them to cut down on the amount of drugs administered.

WIlli House

3/12/2018 09:25:40 pm

I loved your singing from the first concert I went to at The Mill. Missed you so much when you were not part of the group. Keith built me a dulcimer which I treasure. So happy to have found you singing Trumpet vine at the reunion. I volunteer at hospice and music is such comfort. So happy I found you again.

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Let the story begin. "Musical Morphine: Transforming Pain One Note at at Time"

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