Let Me Call You Sweetheart

I was called into the room by a visitor and patient, both motioning vigorously as I came to the door.  Immediately the visitor’s eyes filled with tears as she said to the patient ‘listen, she’s playing Irish music”.  The patient, smiling and already swaying to the music, attempted to talk to me but was difficult to understand.  As I continued to play, he suddenly began to sing in a lovely baritone voice, mostly singing the words, and occasionally humming. I played through a number of Irish songs and other familiar music as he continued to sing.  He would occasionally stop singing, saying ‘oh how lovely, how lovely’ to his wife and grandson.  He then would continue to sing in a lovely clear voice, with gusto, clearly enjoying the session.  As I finished up, the patient motioned toward his heart and toward me, saying “I love you darling”.  The wife and grandson both thanked me, explaining that the patient had a stroke a number of years ago and while he had a very hard time speaking, he loved music and loved to sing. “you are just the tonic he needed”.