Why I Love the Cello

I mentioned on my kidz blog that I found some old journals last week, and I've been reading through some old stories. I'm so glad I documented seemingly insignificant moments. They have come to mean a great deal to me. Let me share one:

While I was going to college, I worked for several years on the cancer floor at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. I was a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant). It was not an easy job, but it was definitely rewarding.

I worked all sorts of crazy hours to keep up with my school schedule. For a long time, I worked on Sunday's. I loved it. And let me tell you why.

Long before I started working there, a man who had several surgeries, but ultimately lost his battle with cancer, had spent long hours on the floor where I worked. His daughter was an accomplished cellist. When he was in the hospital, she would bring her cello in and play. Everyone loved it.

After her father passed away, she decided to continue playing the cello as a gift to her father and to the other patients. It was a gift to me too. She came on Sunday's and played hymns.

One Sunday in particular stands out. We were understaffed and I was literally running between patient rooms trying to keep up with their requests and needs. I was helping one patient when I got a page to go to another patient's room. The other patient was in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, which meant higher precautions before I could enter his room (longer than typical hand-washing, glove, mask, gown). I took the precautions and when I finally made it to his room, I was shocked. I had been there only a few minutes before and he was doing okay, but his temperature had since skyrocketed. I don't remember exactly what it was, but I remember it was so high that when I looked at the number, it scared me so badly it caused me to drop the thermometer.

I paged the nurse and the doctor. I started doing what I could to help cool him down. His wife was crying. His children left the room because they couldn't stand to watch how much pain he was in and not know what to do to help him. Meanwhile, my pager kept going off because other patients needed help too.

I went to get ice. As I was standing in the hall stressed and emotional, I heard the cello playing "Nearer My God to Thee."

It brought so much peace to me. It crept deep into my soul.

When I got back to the room, the man was in much better shape after the doctor had upped his meds and the nurse had worked some of her magic.

I had worked with this man off and on for several months, and cared for him deeply. I considered his wife a friend. I told her about the song I heard in the hall. She asked me to stay with her husband while she went to request the cellist play that song again.

I sat with the man while he wrestled with his pain, ignoring my continued pages.

When his wife came back, she looked completely different. I knew. The song had touched her as well, and brought peace. She asked if I would stay while she said a prayer.

I thought her prayer would be one of request for relief. But it was one of gratitude, complete gratitude for the help they had been given, the family support, the music, that the fever was subsiding. Gratitude. In that awful situation, gratitude. How beautiful. She was near to God.

Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Even though it be a cross that raiseth me,

still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to thee.

The lyrics remind me of this post. Go read it, you'll be glad you did.

I am so grateful the cellist decided to continue giving her music to the cancer floor. It touched the lives of the patients, their families, visitors, and those who worked there. What a gift.

Ever since that time, I have had a deep love for the cello. It reminds me of many things.... charity, not keeping our talents to ourselves, hope, faith, gratitude, comfort, peace....

So when Yo-Yo Ma's quartet did this lovely rendition at the inauguration yesterday....

I was brought to tears. This time the cello's voice filled me with hope. I love how the musicians play with so much passion and joy, and how they watch each other play - respecting the other person's talent while they are in the midst of something so great themselves. I love how the song picks up momentum. I loved it.