Music of the Heart

A few months ago I met a lovely 79 old lady and her 82 year old husband. She was diagnosed with a large cancer and bravely underwent chemotherapy and radiation for her diagnosis.

We became extremely close as I got to know them during the daily treatment. I'd give them both a deep hug, and we'd chat.

Her husband told me the very first day I met them, 'Doctor can you please get her to our 62nd wedding anniversary coming up this October?'

62 years.

A lot of people don't even live that long, and this is how long this incredible pair were married for. They were in complete synch. He had undergone several serious cardiac operations, wasn't supposed to make it out alive, yet he carried on. I asked him what made him fight, and his response was, 'Well, I have to take her medications out every night and make sure that she takes them,' as he lovingly looked at her.

She smiled, and I grinned.
They were one of the most loving people I had ever met.

As she was going through the therapy, one of the radiation therapists mentioned that they both loved classical music and that they had mentioned a concert coming to town--a violinist named Andre Rieu. I asked the therapists if my patients had tickets for the show and found out that they couldn't afford them.

One day in passing, I asked my patient and her husband about this musician.

The husbands eyes lit up, 'Oh Andre is amazing we've seen him on PBS and tape it every time he's on.'
I asked if they had seen him perform live. 'Oh no,' she said, 'it's too expensive, we've only watched him on TV.'

I smiled and said, 'Sounds like an incredible musician, I will definitely look him up, thanks for telling me about him.'

That afternoon, I went to the arena where Andre Rieu was scheduled to play and got two amazing seats. The very next day, I saw my favorite couple.

'So, I know your wedding anniversary is coming up in a few months if I remember correctly,' I casually said.

'Yes,' the husband replied.

'Here is an early anniversary present,' as I handed over the tickets in an envelope.

I watched her open the envelope, and pull out the two tickets.

Her expression and here eyes were joyous. It was a moment I'll never forget. The reaction from both of them: priceless.

She started to cry. I told her to please stop as we hugged.
'Doctor, nobody has done this for me before, I don't know what to say.'

I told her to be happy, and to fight the cancer. I wanted her to get to October, and December for when this concert was scheduled.

They both left my office with tears...as I shed a few as well.

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Yesterday I got a phone call from another physician. My patient from above, who is only a month out from cancer treatment now has cancer in her brain. The bastard disease has now spread to her brain causing her headaches and vision problems.

I got this phone call at lunch.
I went to the bathroom and bawled my eyes out.

She came to see me today, to get evaluated for brain radiation therapy to slow the growth of the tumors in her brain and decrease the swelling causing her symptoms of headaches and imbalance.

I had to prepare myself all morning to see her. Mentally, emotionally, and physically.

I walked into the patient room. I saw her, her husband, and her daughter who came for the first time.

'You missed me so much you had to come back,' I joked.
She smiled, as I held both her hands and hugged her.

Her first words to me as she looked at me was, 'Do you think I will make it until December to go to the concert.'

She had tears in her eyes, as did her husband.
Then she said, 'I'm so sorry I didn't thank you with a card, or send you something.'

I started to cry as I hugged her harder.
'I get a hug from you in person which is more valuable to me than any card.'

I then said the following, 'Visualize yourself at the concert, see yourself in the seats that you have. We will get you to December. You have to go.'

She then said, 'Visualize the concert...without me.'
I yelled, 'NO! With you.'

Her husband, daughter and I told her to think strong. I held her hands and told her that she must be strong mentally. A quick pep talk made her laugh.

'Game ON,' I told her, 'GAME ON!'
'Ok doctor... I just want to also say that I love you,' she replied.

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This evening as I was shopping for odds and ends, I came across this CD--it was a sign-- I was not looking for it, my eyes saw it as I walked down an aisle of the store.


I bought it. Why? Because it was a sign, I came across an Andre Rieu CD not by accident, but for a purpose. I bought it to give to her. To tell her to listen to it every single day and to focus on being alive for December.

I rarely ask favors from people, but I will ask it today--if you can send this person good energy, vibes, prayers, whatever positive thoughts you may have to share--let's get her to her 62nd anniversary and let's get them to the concert.

Thank you.

** UPDATE ***

Mr. Andre Rieu is on Twitter, and a few Twitter friends and I sent him the blog...he started to follow me a week later and TODAY, July 5, 2010 at 3pm PST I received a Direct Message from Mr. Rieu---he would like to arrange to play for my patient. A DREAM COME TRUE!

"We have noticed your blog, and want to contact you, to see what we can do for your patient."

I am crying in happiness..you do not know what this will mean...a dream come true for a terminal patient...a person who's soul will be uplifted by music.

They contacted me, we did a conference call from Amsterdam...their words were the following:

"Hello, we just wanted to say we read your blog and want to do something for your patient. Let us tell you that we get hundreds of requests from everywhere and normally do not do this, but we were touched, and would like to help...."

By this point, albeit 6am my time, I was crying one the phone as they spoke....

"We know you didn't ask us to do anything for your patient but we want to help, please tell us what your ideas are....."

Andre Rieu and his company have generously offered my patient and her husband floor VIP seating for the concert with the opportunity to meet Andre and the orchestra aftewards. In the meantime they have FedExed her a box of Cd's and DVD's in the mail for her to watch to keep her spirits up until December.

I told my patient what had happened....she was so happy, "Doctor, why do you care so much, what have I done to deserve this...." were some of her words. Her husband, with tears in his eyes... smiled...and said, "Thank you for giving me back my life."

Those words. Those words have had such an impact on me. "Thank you for giving me back my life.". That moment in my life....will never be forgotten.

Thank you for everyone's tweets/retweets/etc, your love & kindness will never be forgotten.
Krupali

p.s. this is a thank you note given to me by the patient...I can't wait to see their face when I tell them this update TOMORROW! :D
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