The following weeks gave us the opportunity to get into a new rhythm. The hospital’s equipment beeping all the time, the never ending vital checks and administering of medication, the medical staff visits every 2 to 4 hours, had been exchanged to a more loosen and laid back atmosphere which gave logic to its name of “home”. Knowing what to expect made me feel more comfortable.
I found extra time to research on brain injuries, next steps, organizations, support groups, anything and everything, which could shed light and guide us on our situation. This was a temporary home and nothing more. I had to explore our choices without jeopardizing David’s health. I wasn’t going to leave him and I couldn’t stay forever in Miami. The Lord would guide us, but I had to do my part.
Every day I looked forward to Ana Carolina bringing coffee or Eddie taking his lunch hour and spending time with us. Everyone was back to routine. Cousins would constantly call or pop in to say hello.
Every day I looked forward to Ana Carolina bringing coffee or Eddie taking his lunch hour and spending time with us. Everyone was back to routine. Cousins would constantly call or pop in to say hello.
David slept a lot. I sat next to his bed and spent many hours reading, praying, and listening to classical music or CDs, which played sounds of rivers, the ocean or birds. One of our favorites was a Baroque Classical CD that Mama Aby had sent David. It became such a favorite on the floor, I ended having to get extra copies to give away to the nurses who wanted it to take home or play it to other patients. David’s roommates enjoyed falling asleep to this music, which seem to convey an array of human emotions.
On the first week of our arrival, I asked the floor staff about the young man who had been transferred from the hospital the same day as David. I learned that the private room, which originally was to be David’s ended up being prepared for this young man instead. I also learned he had no relatives staying with him. His family lived up north. My first thoughts were on the fact that if he had no need of a private room maybe I could arrange to swap rooms so I could stay at night with David.
After a few days, I asked if I could meet him. The nurse in charge asked I wore a mask before entering Mathew’s room. The door was half way open and the TV was on. I knocked on the door and walked in. Mathew was on his side facing the window. As I got closer, I introduced myself. Once I circled the bed to face him, my heart stood still. This handsome young man, David’s age, had a tracheotomy hooked to a respirator, a feeding tube, and a towel over his forehead. Half of his skull had been removed. His eyes were closed. I continued talking as if to make sure he wouldn’t know I was in shock. I wasn’t sure if he could understand but I told him I was down the hallway with my son David. I promised that I would pray for him, visit him again and left the room. At that moment I burst sobbing with compassion. I was so happy to know Mathew had the private room. I shared with David who Mathew was and we prayed together for him and his family.
After a few days, I asked if I could meet him. The nurse in charge asked I wore a mask before entering Mathew’s room. The door was half way open and the TV was on. I knocked on the door and walked in. Mathew was on his side facing the window. As I got closer, I introduced myself. Once I circled the bed to face him, my heart stood still. This handsome young man, David’s age, had a tracheotomy hooked to a respirator, a feeding tube, and a towel over his forehead. Half of his skull had been removed. His eyes were closed. I continued talking as if to make sure he wouldn’t know I was in shock. I wasn’t sure if he could understand but I told him I was down the hallway with my son David. I promised that I would pray for him, visit him again and left the room. At that moment I burst sobbing with compassion. I was so happy to know Mathew had the private room. I shared with David who Mathew was and we prayed together for him and his family.
The next day, I got a small CD player, marked it with Mathew’s name and brought the popular Baroque CD for him. I asked the nurses to exchange turning on the TV for music and to make sure the CD would play as much as possible for him. I knew music could do marvelous things for Mathew.
Music is important. There is power in music. Music affects our beings. We are spiritual beings and music is an expression of the soul. God created sounds. We discover music through sounds and create musical compositions through combinations of sounds. Nature is constantly creating music.
Music is important. There is power in music. Music affects our beings. We are spiritual beings and music is an expression of the soul. God created sounds. We discover music through sounds and create musical compositions through combinations of sounds. Nature is constantly creating music.
We write songs of love, songs of praise to God, lullabies to our children, carols for Christmas, hymns to our land, jingles to our sport teams. We use music to intensify a love theme or a dramatic one in films. The majestic type of music used at graduations, weddings or great finales can make one emotional. Music makes people re-live experiences, think of people and places in the past and reach out to emotions, which are embedded and unique to the songs playing.
Sound of Music
"Music significantly affects mood”. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018861. It has been proven to be an integral part of our mental health. It can soothe stress, build confidence, rouse enthusiasm, increase hostility, sadness, and tension, and it can help people feel optimistic and promote social behavior. The brain chemistry or neurological makeup has an effect on music. “When people listen to music, the brains produce dopamine --- the "pleasure chemical" also released by many drugs. When exposed to music (either listening or playing), young children's brains develop faster and with neural pathways that might not develop in any other way”. http://www.ehow.com/info_8765530_music-affect-mood-mind.html
Like everything else, music has also been tainted with ugly, to the extent that radio stations have created “safe” music model programs. Safe from profanity, safe from misconceptions, safe from twisted emotional expressions, safe from sexual innuendos. It is easy to get caught up with a melody or rhythm and not pay attention to the lyrics. When I listen to some pop music, it alarms me to think our society finds it acceptable and enjoyable to listen.
Like everything else, music has also been tainted with ugly, to the extent that radio stations have created “safe” music model programs. Safe from profanity, safe from misconceptions, safe from twisted emotional expressions, safe from sexual innuendos. It is easy to get caught up with a melody or rhythm and not pay attention to the lyrics. When I listen to some pop music, it alarms me to think our society finds it acceptable and enjoyable to listen.
We have chosen to be influenced by anything in the name of the “right to speech”. For some it is hard to walk away, ignore or turn off entertainment with the wrong message or image. This ugly music undermines in more than one way, the dignity of human beings. It horrifies me to think this music is building new values to younger generations.
Music is powerful. If we filter what we listen for a considerable period of time, it will become easier to discern good music from the rest. We should become attentive in choosing the kind of music we listen to. Protect yourself from exposure to explicit music. Not all artists produce good things.
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart”. (Luke 6:45)
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart”. (Luke 6:45)
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