I received this email recently from a long-time Forgotten Hits Reader. (If she wasn’t one of the first 35, she had to be pretty darn close … maybe #37 or #38!!!)
I don’t think she necessarily sent it to me with the intention of sharing it with everyone else … but it’s such a powerful story … and proves once again the healing power of music … that I just wouldn’t feel right keeping it all to myself.
Hi Kent ...
I know … "long time no
hear."
I have been away from my
computer. A lot of stuff going on here. Hope you are well.
On a personal note, I was
involved in an auto accident in late September out in Hershey Pa. This is
over two hours away from where I live. I was the passenger in the
vehicle, at the mercy of my husband's driving.
While he was not under the
influence, I was injured when a speeding Camaro ran a light and plowed into the
front of the car (passenger side) as my husband attempted to make a left
turn on a yellow. Awful. I've never broken anything.
The impact of the crash spun our car around
and my foot slammed against the hump underneath the dash, causing me to break three
bones in my foot and ankle. I was rushed to the trauma center and they
tried to fix my foot but the bones were too unstable and so I had to stay a
week at the hospital for the swelling to go down. The team of surgeons
were excellent and set the bones in place with an external fixator.
Later that week, I had a second
operation. I am ok, but not able to walk. I am in a wheelchair and
use a walker to get around my living room, wearing a boot. My husband suffered minor injuries and the kids in the Camaro
that ran the red light are ok, too.
I will go back to Hershey because the doctors
were amazing. You would be very interested to know that one of the
anesthesiologists there was a DJ at one time. This doctor was
brilliant.
Before my second surgery, he asked if I liked
any of the songs from the 1960s. (He was
around my age.) He commented that it was
a time of Viet Nam War conflict ... and I agreed. He reminded me of a Navy
Seal. He asked if I lost anyone during the Viet Nam War and I responded,
Yes. I think he asks everyone that. Maybe he lost someone very close to
him.
Surprisingly, he next asked if I like 60's
music. YES! I couldn't figure out why he would be asking me this at the
time. It seemed to not gel with the situation at hand, preparation for
surgery and pain. He then asked me if I had a request for any songs from
the ‘60’s. I said yes, I like the Grass
Roots. Mind you, I was scared and anxious right before the surgery.
Well, he started singing Midnight Confessions
and asked how I liked his singing. I said it sounds good. But it
didn't end with that. He asked if I had a request! I said, "Temptation Eyes" by the
Grass Roots. Then he played it for me on his iPhone as he prepared me for some
pain blockers to dull the nerves in my foot after the surgery by connecting
pain blockers to some nerves in my leg. This was all foreign and new to
me.
After that, he asked if I like to play Name
that Tune. I said, “Sure.” He was
on a roll as he worked with his staff to prepare me for surgery. He
played the first note of "Cherish" by the Association. He was
pleased with me that I knew it immediately. I saw now that there was a
method to his madness. And it was brilliant.
So we really connected, BIG TIME. He started
singing and asked me to sing. Then he played "Never My Love"
and I was singing almost the whole time.
This doctor was AMAZING. It was a spiritual
experience. Not of this world. His method transcended my pain and
uneasiness and fear about the surgery. It was miraculous. He completely took my mind off my operation
and USED MUSIC to do so.
When he left, I broke down and wept. Very
emotional. As he left, I quickly said, “THANK YOU for making me feel like
I was 18 again." It was astonishing how he was able to do this and still
remain professional as his staff helped work on my foot and leg with his guidance
Beautiful person, brilliant man. Wonderful spirit.
I wanted to share this story with you because
I know that you could appreciate it. Music continues to be a huge part of
my life. And I THANK GOD for that and for this wonderful doctor. I am telling
everyone I know what a great person he is. I have connected with something
greater than myself through the oldies music which is so much a big part of me
and my life. As I know that it is for you as well.
Thanks for reading this email. I hope
you like my story. God Bless.
Sandy
So sorry to hear about your accident ... but
it sounds like you couldn't have been in better hands when it came to the
healing department.
Music is the universal language ... and its
healing powers are second to none. Just taking your mind off of
everything else that was going on in your body at the time is really saying
something.
Hope you're on the mend and start feeling
better soon. What's the prognosis for getting out of the wheelchair and
being able to walk again?
A coworker of mine was in a MAJOR car accident
over the 4th of July Weekend - got hit broadside by a truck that ran a red
light - plowed into him and rolled HIS truck over twice. They had to
airlift him to a hospital in Milwaukee for surgery. And he's nowhere near
done yet ... he's about to have this third since being released.
Yet it really IS a miracle what doctors can do
today in putting the body back together again.
Hang in there ... and keep those oldies
playin' ... in your mind and in your heart!
(kk)
