Roseville, Sacramento, South Sacramento

Music brings healing

Doug Dowell was in the hospital for almost six weeks following removal of his second leg due to complications from diabetes. His wife, Susan, who was in pain from a broken kneecap, scarcely left his side.

Then came Elizabeth Wendt with her harp. “It had been a long, long road for them,” says Wendt, coordinator of the Spiritual Care Healing Music Program, which serves both our Roseville and Sacramento medical centers.  “Each time I played for them, I saw the tension wash away.”

“It was a very uplifting experience for both my wife and me,” recalls Dowell. “It was a time to relax, slow down, and be renewed. It brought a deep inner peace.”

Both Wendt and Aileen Kelley are certified music practitioners who are trained to work in health care. Kelley brings her harp to individual patients in the Intensive Care Unit at our Roseville Medical Center.

“Our bodies are rhythmic, and they don’t like to be out of sync when we’re ill,” says Kelley. “Music brings a steady beat into the room, and the body wants to latch onto it. I’ve seen music improve oxygen saturation, help stabilize heartbeats, relieve pain, and calm patients with dementia.”

Chaplain Connie Johnstone, North Valley manager of Spiritual Care, says that only trained, certified musicians play in ICU, Pediatrics, and other patient areas. “We also have very gifted volunteer musicians play in our public lobbies for all to enjoy.”

In South Sacramento, harpist Susanna Lowy and guitarist/singer Sarah Quinney visit patients with Rev. Art Lillicropp, manager of Spiritual Care. A group of employees called the South Sac Singers also bring calming melodies to the rooms of some of our patients who are at the end of their lives. “Part of the thrill of music seems to come from letting go and finding a peace deeper than pain, worry, or fear,” says Lillicropp. “It really does play an important role in the healing process.”

Musicians interested in our healing music program may contact:

• Sacramento and Roseville: Call (916) 784-4191 or e-mail connie.e.johnstone@kp.org.
• South Sacramento: Call (916) 688-6488 or e-mail arthur.r.lillicropp@kp.org.

 

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