COMPASSION FOR THE CONVALESCING
Compassionate Harps, a program of HealthCare Harps Institute, LLC, presently provides live therapeutic harp music to help ease pain and lessen anxiety for the critically ill and dying in hospitals, hospices, and homes in both San Bernardino and Orange Counties. Compassionate Harps is a community service and educational program that trains professional harpists to give service with their instrument at the request and comfort level of each patient. When harp music is played live, the melodies, tone, volume and intensity can be adjusted according to the needs of the ill person. It has been proven by hospice nurses that patients who have received therapeutic harp music exhibit less anxiety, sleep better, and require less pain medication. The harp has a wide range of pitches, which can be felt throughout the body. It has a universal significance with its unique effect: the glissando, creating an ethereal sound. This dynamic of harmonics cannot be experienced through taped music.
I have seen for myself Compassionate Harps’ powerful and loving service given during the bedside passing of my great-grandmothers and church/city leaders. I have also found, especially during my years as a contestant, that music therapy is not only effective with the older generation; it is equally effective, if not more, to the convalescent children in our local Children’s Hospitals. This is my personal link to the Children’s Miracle Network. Not only do I get to raise funds as a contestant, but also I get to actively participate in CMN’s ultimate mission to help kids. I frequently play the harp for the kids at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, CA (CHOC) and I have been named the “on-call” harpist there. Other than hearing Disney tunes on a harp, seeing a girl walk in with a sparkly crown gets the kids excited too!
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