Derrick's Song
'The Drummer Boy'
In a room at the farthest end of the hallway on Unit 37, I met Derrick. When I arrived, the room was silent and still. A young woman was seated next to his bed with a paper and pen in hand. They were apparently in the middle of a conversation yet there was no talking. We exchanged names and then I turned to Derrick to ask him if he would enjoy listening to some music. It was then that I realized that Derrick was deaf.
His daughter suggested that she write the invitation on paper. I waited as she wrote, "Would you like Maureen to play you a few songs?" Derrick smiled upon seeing the note and nodded in response. I asked what kind of music he enjoyed. I repeated the question more loudly hoping that perhaps he might hear and understand. He looked to his daughter for clarification. She rephrased the question. He responded hesitantly, "old songs". "You like the oldies but goodies do you?" I inquired. I parked my guitar on the floor and began reaching for some music. As I gathered my materials, I also tried to gather my thoughts: " I wonder how the music might touch this man given his inability to hear? How would he feel the beat? How could he hear the words?
It was then that I discovered the hand drum in my bag. I pulled it out and set it on the bed alongside a music book of songs from the 30's, 40's and 50's. I turned to the song, "Tipperary". The words to the title were largely printed on the page. I held up the book for Derrick's perusal. He nodded in approval of the song selection. I began to play and sing. His daughter joined in. Derrick smiled and moved his head with the beat. "He must be feeling something or maybe he's simply watching the rhythmic movements of my hand", I thought. After singing through the song once, I passed the drum to him and nodded in encouragement that he might play it. He reluctantly took the instrument in hand and we began singing the song for a second time. He tapped along with the beat as we continued to sing. When we came to the end of the piece, his daughter and I applauded his performance. Derrick grinned with delight. We went on to sing "Mocking Bird Hill", "School Days" and other melodies, which have withstood the test of time. Every time I looked up at him he was smiling and when a half hour had passed, his daughter commented, "It's amazing what the music can do. In just a short time it can transform a person. Dad is so happy now. Thank you.
"Music has the power to heal", I responded. "It can touch places that medicine cannot go. Together they can help restore peace to the body, mind and soul." Derrick was being discharged the following day and so I knew when I left that this was to be our first and last time together. I was grateful for the opportunity to make music and to make him smile.
Maureen Miller is a Music Specialist on a palliative care team in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. This is one of many entries in her collection: Songs of September – Memorable Music Moments in the Palliative Care Unit