Nashville Music Medics Start Our Day the Centennial Way

 Nashville Music Medics Meet  the Challenge of Another Great “TwoFer” As We Start our Day the Centennial Way

On March 11^th the Nashville Music Medics took on another challenge with visits to both the Children’s Hospital at Tri-Star Centennial and the ALIVE Hospice residential facility a few blocks down the street.

While we customarily  visit both facilities on the same day, twice each month, this would prove to be another challenge (accepted and met) since we were resuming our  2x each month with the hospital after a brief hiatus, limited to a monthly basis,  which had begun back in January. 

We were met by CCLS, Morgan Daily, as we were warming up and proceeded  to Oncology where two patients awaited our arrival. 

The customary  elevator selfie, of course with Morgan and Jason, who would eventually take some nice photos for us.  [ Actually video from which we captured some frame shots; thanks Jason]


  Photo credit Bill Munn

We also had been scheduled to be joined by the Administration officers of ALIVE Hospice in early 2026; March 11^th was finally upon us; They not only joined is in full force for a “meet-and-greet” during our warm-up rehearsal but they also joined us for our “rounds” to visit patients and families.  Follow along as we review our time spent with “our kiddos” and take you to Hospice with us.

FIRST, we’ll reflect upon our  visits with the patients, families and staff at Children’s Hospital at Tri-Star Centennial and then we’ll  move on to the ALIVE Hospice visits.  We took seven Medics to the hospital and were joined by two more for our time together at Hospice.


                                                       Tri-Star Centennial Children’s Hospital

We visited with “Cindy”  and another returning  patient we knew in Oncology and we found an old friend, Dr. Matt Jaeger, in the ED as we were welcomed to smile and sing to Kimberly and her Mom as Kimberly awaited her attention.

    
Our first visit in Oncology was with a patient we have had the pleasure of meeting previously.  So why not a song about being friends, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” in addition to “The Name Song” for old times.

                      Here’s a sample of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”

                         https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x4lV3ruNKhfNn4GvXJTQcFekitWElY5W/view?usp=drive_link

                                               Video credit Jason Jackson

Then we met Cindy close-by down the hall.   We were invited to join Cindy in her room (without overwhelming her and her friend !)     Another opportunity for “The Cindy Song” as well as “A Spoonful of Sugar”. 

It is so rewarding to watch the smiles appear!   Photo credit Jason  Jackson                  


As we conclude our rounds  we customarily check into the Emergency Department.  Morgan led the way and Dr. Matt Jaeger was the first to welcome us back!  

“Kimberly” and her Mom welcomed us into the room.  Kimberly wasn’t quite sure about this kind of attention as she laid on that green gurney but these granddads  talked with her for a few minutes and the moment she heard, “Oh, Kimberly, Kimberly, Bless Your Heart…” the grin soon became a nice smile and then a broad smile when we finished the song in double time!!


              NOW WE’LL RE-FOCUS AND HEAD FOR OUR PRESENTATION AND OUTREACH AT ALIVE HOSPICE




                       And We Are Humbled to Learn the TrueValue of Our Singing!

We are often told how people feel after we visit, but to hear that the day of our visit  is something we won’t soon forget, nor would we want to. During our March 11th visit to AliveHospice we were honored to be joined by Amir Hamad, President & CEO, Lindsey Buzzard CFO and Karen Hyden, CNO. They were eager to hear and see what it is we do for their patients and staff.

Of course, anyone who comes to listen for the first time must be welcomed into the Nashville Music Medics family with “The Name Song.” We sprung that upon the unsuspecting CNO Karen who graciously sat through our singing, and even danced along without actually dancing. Sounds difficult but she managed…see below.

                               Video credit Amir Hamad


                                https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NR1EswxNUMVqGk2ol3aFzC7APOkEQotA/view?usp=drive_link


Just before we left the warm-up area to make our rounds, we were given a real blessing as our good friend and Volunteer Coordinator, Julie Davis, told us a story from one of our recent visits.

 In her own words Julie shares:


“We value the talent and the dedication the Music Medics offer to our patients at the Alive Hospice In-Patient Unit on Patterson Street, in Nashville, TN.  They are so kind, always professional and so talented.  They are an uplifting group to be around.  Every other Wednesday, we are blessed by their visits to sing to our patients as they are entering their last days and moments here on earth.   They have a wide repertoire of different songs they sing to our patients from gospel and religious songs, to “A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down” song, to the famous “Name Song” where they can insert any patient’s name into the song.  That particular person believes the song was written just with them in mind!  The songs touch the hearts and souls of our patients, and that of their family and friends.  But they also touch the hearts of our staff, nurses and doctors.  I have heard them sing so many times over my years at Alive, yet there is always a song that brings tears to my eyes when I hear them sing it to a particular patient.  I might have heard it sung hundreds of times before, but something gets to me every visit.  This tells me their songs have meaning and deep messages.  The songs I love them to sing the most are their patriotic songs they sing in honor of our Veterans.  We know that “hearing” is the last of the senses to leave a person as they are dying, so the words of every song they sing impacts and adds a blessing to the person hearing it.  

One particular time, upon their recent visit, we went into a patient’s room who was a retired Army Veteran.  He no longer could speak, but could hear what we were saying and could communicate with a thumbs up or a smile, etc.  The Music Medics sang many patriotic songs one after another to him and got a lot of “thumbs up” signs from this patient.  The patient smiled the entire time they were in the room.  I directed the singers to go to the next room, but I stayed behind.  I had a flag pin I pinned on this patient’s shirt as he was lying in bed.  I handed his wife, sitting in the room, a star that came from a flag that flew over the state of Tennessee that had been retired due to being worn out.  We got permission to cut the stars out of the flag to give to our veterans and then we gave the pieces to the Boy Scouts to dispose of in the proper and correct manner.  I told our patient that the volunteer had made an “Army” patterned pillowcase for him to honor him for his service.  I glanced over, and his wife was hugging the little star I gave her with a thank you note on the back that thanked him for his service and let them know that his flag star was special because it flew over the state of TN.  His wife and I helped change out his white pillowcase to the “Army” printed pillowcase.  I think he winked at me when we were doing this change over, as to say thank you.  I verbally thanked him for his service to our country and to keep all of us safe, let him know we all appreciated him and that it was my honor to get to know him and to thank him in person for his service. 

Slowly, he raised his arm, placed his hand to his forehead and saluted.   With tears running down my face with a smile, still holding onto his hand, I hugged his wife.  It looked like he was peacefully sleeping now, calm, but it was now his time to retire for the last time. 

I stayed by to support the wife through the next process.  As I was at the back door with the wife to support her, while he was being taken to the funeral home; the Music Medics had completed their rounding and were leaving out the front door…not knowing what had been going on after they had sung the patriotic songs to this patient. These gentlemen had no idea that their singing of the  patriotic songs to honor our dear Army Veteran was the last words in song this patient heard at the end of his life and before he took his last breath.

The Music Medics Group keeps on singing and sharing their songs, with dedication and a mission emphasis to so many.  Sometimes they don’t even get to hear stories like this of how their music has touched and made an imprint on the hearts of so many people…but they keep on singing anyway!  I was able to share this story with them recently to thank the Music Medics Group, with a smile, with tears, and with a salute!”

                                     With my heart-felt thanks for all you do,
                                     Julie Davis, Volunteer Coordinator
                                     Alive Hospice-Nashville TN

After this heartwarming, poignant interlude we began our brief journey led by Volunteer “Mary” to visit a number of patients and families.  We were encouraged and blessed that Amir, Lindsey and Karen joined us for a glimpse of the interactions we cherish.  Just a brief sampling captured in the below photo.


   VideoPhoto Credit Jason Jackson                 


                                                                              
We will soon introduce a new song for our time spent with Alive Hospice.  On our way out, after our customary blessing together (provided by Bill Munn) we stopped by Marissa’s reception desk and previewed for her “The Lord’s Prayer”.

                                                             
                                               Photo Credit Jason Jackson   

It is humbling to be told about the comfort our visit gave to a person leaving to go home. We are beyond grateful to learn of such things as we continue to try and bring that Spirit with us to every patient we visit at ALIVE Hospice. We are thankful to have this relationship with such a wonderful organization.


                      
                                             Photo credit: collaborative


                                   

                 Making a small but positive difference in troubled lives is a task worth repeating.


     A collaboration for Nashville Music Medics by Sam Englsh and Wayne Jackson