Music is so powerful. There is a song for every emotion, every human situation. Songs put into words feelings we cannot express. Songs lift us up beyond the seeming limitations of any moment in time. Giving someone the gift of music is a special thing.
When my mother was dying and unable to communicate with us, my sisters and I sang all her favourite songs to her. We started with Perry Como's 'Catch a falling star' and we sang our way through 'Magic Moments' and on. Most of our mother's neural pathways had been destroyed by an aneurysm but we instinctively knew that the songs bypassed the injury and gave her peace. We were absolutely unified in our desire to support her and walk this one last night with her. All the love we felt for her was in those songs and the memories they brought back for us. As we sang, through that long night, our mother began to relax and a powerful feeling of love filled the room. It was truly a magic moment.
Early next morning she was gone.
Today, I was reminded of that night by a short video created by Dr. Oliver Sachs about the benefits of music for people with Acquired Brain Injury. If you have a loved one who is no longer able to communicate with you this will be of special interest to you.
When my mother was dying and unable to communicate with us, my sisters and I sang all her favourite songs to her. We started with Perry Como's 'Catch a falling star' and we sang our way through 'Magic Moments' and on. Most of our mother's neural pathways had been destroyed by an aneurysm but we instinctively knew that the songs bypassed the injury and gave her peace. We were absolutely unified in our desire to support her and walk this one last night with her. All the love we felt for her was in those songs and the memories they brought back for us. As we sang, through that long night, our mother began to relax and a powerful feeling of love filled the room. It was truly a magic moment.
Early next morning she was gone.
Today, I was reminded of that night by a short video created by Dr. Oliver Sachs about the benefits of music for people with Acquired Brain Injury. If you have a loved one who is no longer able to communicate with you this will be of special interest to you.
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