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Healing Harmony scrubs in: Trio visits cancer patients to play, sing

By Amy Thon, athon@qconline.com

As music filled the halls of the oncology floor Sunday, patients asked for their doors to be opened wider so they could better hear the folk rock, blues and classic cover songs performed by local musicians.

The three musicians spend one Sunday afternoon each month playing for cancer patients at Trinity Regional Health System's West Campus or for hospice patients at the Terrace Park campus.

Ellis Kell, a local singer, songwriter and guitarist, and cancer-survivor himself, saw an article on a similar music program at an East Coast hospital and the idea stuck with him.

"It was an opportunity for me to get together with two good friends and musicians I've played with off and on for years," he said. "This was just a way to get together and do something that we would all feel good about and feel like we were giving something back."

Those two good friends are Michael Frank, a bass player, and Tony Hoeppner, who plays guitar, mandolin and harmonica. Mr. Kell also plays dobro and banjo. All three in the group sing.

"We do probably at least 50 percent original songs that Tony's written and that I've written," Mr. Kell said.

Mr. Hoeppner said as a musician in the area for many years, he feels music has given him a lot and it was time to give something back.

"I love to play for people, especially if they appreciate it," he said. "If I was confined to a hospital room, I would appreciate any type of interaction."

For Mr. Frank, the payback is much greater than any monetary value, he said.

"It's a very easy way for us to give something back and it's very gratifying to know that somebody can actually escape the mental anguish of what they are going through even if it's just a few minutes," he said.

So far, the reaction for families and patients has been positive, said Jennifer Dehlman, manager of oncology at Trinity.

"I think from the patient perspective it provides a calming peaceful environment," she said. "It breaks up a little bit of the anxiety related to hospitalization."

The music replaces anxiety with "comforting melodies and fond memories that the music brings back," she said. It allows the hospital staff to care for patients on an emotional level in addition to treating their diagnosis and its symptoms, Ms. Dehlman said.

"Visitors and people in the hallways will just follow the music because they want to see what's going on," she said. "It has taken the edge off the crisp starkness of the hospital and made it a little more personable."

The nursing staff has enjoyed the music as well, Ms. Dehlman said.

The performance is very informal, Mr. Kell said. Sometimes they play out in the hall, sometimes they are in the family lounge.

"If we know one of their favorite songs, we'll do it," he said. "People stop in and ask us about the music. We don't go into the patient's rooms, to respect their privacy."

They also tailor the music and tone to the patient's needs, Ms. Dehlman said.

"They can dial it up or down according to the needs of the patients and families," she said.

The trio has noticed when they visit the hospice unit that all of the patients doors are open, Mr. Frank said.

"If it gives them a little bit of release for an hour, that's great."

Staff writer Amy Thon can be reached at (309) 786-6441, ext. 208.

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