Nashville Music Medics _ And MORE Firsts
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Sam English |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Sat, Mar 15 2025 |
Nashville Music Medics – More Firsts
With a number of our singers out of the visitation loop this week, another on IR (Injured Reserve) and another taking an unexpected and unwelcome trip to the Emergency Department late on Tuesday evening prior to our Wednesday, March 12th visits, the “what ifs” started drifting in.
Texts and voice messaging took over and by midnight I had our “Magnificent Seven” locked in and ready to roll in the morning. Alas, I would need to transport myself to TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital and Alive Hospice. The Wezulbus chariot was unavailable and that Emergency Department visitor was my backup!
The seven Nashville Music Medics came from the South, The North, the East AND the Far-West. At 10:40 a.m. we gathered to begin vocal warm-ups. Our hostess, CCLS Kayla Geistman, met us promptly with a joyful smile, excited to present us to some wonderful patients. The “Magnificent Seven” (Sam, Tom, Bill, Doug, Dick, Dave and Kirk) was soon scurrying to keep pace with Kayla; she had five potential patients for us to visit. Although we were not able to visit them all (sometimes sleep takes priority – patients, not our Bass or Tenor) we experienced two more “FIRSTS”.
Yumi was a first generation U.S. Citizen from Nigeria and Andie Jane was an excited, smiling, vociferous young lady in Pediatric Intensive Care with her Mom, Alisa.
We were visiting with YUMI between songs and learned about her Nigerian heritage, her parents having immigrated to the U.S. This led to a sparkling conversation between she and our bass singer, Bill, because he has two adult children in African countries (Zambia and So. Africa) as well as a gaggle of adorable grandchildren! He is also a frequent flyer. A memorable first for NMM and Bill.
Before we headed down the highway to Alive Hospice we had one additional visit in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. This is where we found AndieJane and he mother, Alisa.
We began with “The Andie Song” for Andie as we grouped around her door; PICU, no entry. Before we finished the second phrase, “Andie that we Love So Well…” we heard a frightening scream and “I love you too!” It was indeed Andie reacting to the name song! This was much more than a spontaneous smile! A FIRST! This happened frequently during this fun song. We just knew that we were all friends after this so we continued with “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story@. Within seconds we were treated to another LOUD scream and “I Love Toy Story”. Andie once again, not Mom, Alisa!
What joy Andie returned to us! We sang her one more song… SCREAM, SCREAM almost on cue!
The Andie Song Click to Play
You've Got a Friend in Me Click to Play
On the way out we always check with the Emergency Department. Kayla had checked for us while we sang, laughed and screamed with Andie. With no emergency cases today we made our way with our customary trip to Alive Hospice-Nashville.
Alive Hospice-Nashville
As we gathered in the chapel for another warm-up on some of the tunes designed for the Hospice families, we were once again joined by our friend, Volunteer Coordinator Julie Davis. Julie introduced us to a new Volunteer in Training, Mary, who would be joining us in future scheduling.
As we visited with several patients and families we found ourselves having been led to a break room area where several granddaughters and daughter were gathered, along with other family members from out of State. (All were here in support of the same terminal patient). We shared our Music Medics history and mission and presented a 3-song set for the children and adults alike. Julie then led us to the patient’s room with the family entourage. We soon learned this patient was a military veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, and not only a Vietnam Veteran but also a Purple Heart recipient. Three of the “Magnificent Seven” Medics singing today are also veterans, Dave, Tom and Sam.
We then provided our version of “America the Beautiful” and “The Star Spangled Banner” and once again departed with “The Irish Blessing”.
Making a small but positive difference in troubled lives is a task worth repeating and repeating and repeating and …
Provided by Sam English on behalf of the Nashville Music Medics, www.NashvilleMusicMedics.org
