What’s a man made of? This video of a son singing to his terminally-ill mother might tell you more than you think.
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Before the modern man, there were cavemen. Before there were modern ways to create light, there was fire. Before it was known that fire could cause chaos and heartache, there was calm.
Calm, quiet moments are hard to find in today’s loud, hectic world. They’re the hidden jewel of human existence–the core of what keeps mankind moving forward. When those moments come at a price, however, one is forced to learn lessons about life much sooner than expected.
According to alzheimersmusicconnect.com, this is something that Joe Fraley, an up and coming singer/songwriter, knows all too well. The article reports that his mother, who has always loved listening to her son play music with his band, has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for approximately a year. Fraley shot the video above while singing an original song to her during that time–before she was moved into an assisted living facility where she faced the beginnings of an aggressive downward spiral.
The article also says that Fraley took to social media soon after filming the video, to express the importance of the song he sings and the heaviness of his and his family’s emotional journey:
“This is a video of me playing a song to my Mom who has Alzheimer’s. This was before she moved into assisted living, when she lived at home with me and my Dad. I am a little embarrassed for posting something so personal. I wasn’t expecting all the attention it’s been getting, but the fact that it has touched so many people make sit worth while. My Dad and 3 siblings are proud as well. Thank you everyone so much for such kind words. I hope this video promotes awareness of this horrible disease….and encourages people to give their parents a big hug.”
This is followed by a heartfelt message from representatives at Alzheimer’s Music Connect:
“Since not everyone can play music on a guitar or piano for their loved ones, Alzheimer’s Music Connect has designed a series of music for Alzheimer’s patients enhanced by a symphonic technology to promote brainwave activity (results validated by EEG studies) to make therapeutic music listening simple and easy. The music can foster connections, promote a calm and alert state, and give a caregiver a much needed break.
Last year, Alzheimer’s Music Connect helped thousands of families stay connected to their loved ones. Here is what one of our recent customers had to share on Facebook:
“I’ve checked this out —and the cost is minimal–under $20–and up–hardly anything to pay -to see the light come back on in our loved ones eyes —even for a moment—and after all is said and done–isn’t that what we all ask for–just one more moment with them.”
I think there’s so much that can be said about pain–so much that can be said about the silence it takes to hold pain inside, where no one can see it. Pain itself is something any man, woman and child can talk about all day, but until you can actually see it, I don’t think it can ever be measured.
So consider this: if music can bring pain to the surface while healing it, why isn’t being used more often to sooth the sick and mentally ill? More importantly, what’s society really doing and saying about the age-old stereotype that it’s unusual and “wrong” for men to show emotion?
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Photo Credit: www.alzheimersmusicconnect.com