My mom always loved music. She would play records around the house, especially when she was cooking or when we were all together. When she got sick and started spending most of her time in bed, she couldn’t do many of the things she used to enjoy. But she still liked listening to her favorite songs.
She had records she had owned for years. Some of them she played over and over. When family came over, the music was usually on in the background, the way it had always been in her house. If you asked her about a song, she could usually tell you who sang it and when she first heard it.
She still had her ways, too. She liked her soft blanket tucked a certain way, and she liked hearing familiar voices in the next room. Those little things were important to her.
Miguel was Mom’s hospice nurse from Shining Light Hospice, and we got to know him pretty well. He always asked how she was feeling and took time to answer our questions. If something was bothering her, he would try to make her comfortable and explain what he was doing. We appreciated that he never made us feel like we were bothering him with questions.
There were other people who helped Mom too. The aides helped her get cleaned up and comfortable, and the social worker checked in with our family. Everyone seemed to know the little things Mom liked, and that made things easier for us.
Listening to music became one of the regular parts of her day. Somebody would put a record on, or play songs from a phone, and she would listen from her bed. Some days she just rested and listened. Some days she talked more. She did not need much else going on. The music was enough.
One day Mom mentioned the song she and Dad used to dance to when they were younger. It was Elvis singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Miguel helped us find the recording, and we played it for her in her room. He stayed for a while and listened with her.
She really enjoyed hearing it. She started talking about how she and Dad used to dance to it, right there in that house. It was nice seeing her smile and hearing those memories.
We played that song for her again on other days after that. It was the one she went back to.
It was a really nice moment for all of us. Mom was happy, and it brought back memories of when she and Dad were younger. We were grateful Miguel took the time to help make that happen.
Those were difficult days for our family, but I’m glad Mom was comfortable and that we got to spend that time with her. I’ll always remember hearing that song with her.
Laura K., Margaret’s daughter
If your family is facing this and wants to talk it through, call Shining Light Hospice at 702-906-0044. Our phones are answered around the clock.
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