Harp Music by Musical Medicine - Spiritual Care Musical Healings

Hospice Social Worker's Report:

"I was at the bedside of an elderly woman who was dying. There were a lot of disturbing noises out in the hallway of the hospital. This patient had a strong, Christian church background. She was listening to HEAVENLY ASSURANCE VOCAL by Diana McMahan. The sounds on this tape surrounded her with peace. This was an ideal tape for her.

There is definitely a place for this kind of music for Pain Management, or that twilight state just before patients pass away." - Norman Vaylus LCSW, Vitas Hospice, Riverside, CA.

Write up from Southern California Christian Times, May 1995
”Diana’s clear, lilting voice speaks to the elderly with strength and power, but is gentle enough to charm the youngest child. Calming, encouraging, spirit-motivating, her hymns and spiritual songs wrap the heart in a comforting blanket of God’s love.

Although some people may feel the prayers on McMahan’s tapes interrupt her beautiful melodies, most will recognize that they are vital, connecting threads that give the songs their healing power – personalizing thoughts, speaking to innermost needs, and encouraging an active faith”.

A Minister's Report:
I was at the bedside of a friend of mine who was actively dying. She was struggling to breathe and stay alive. I put on "Heavenly Assurance Vocal", and my friend immediately calmed down. Such peace filled the room. She was able to surrender, release, and feel the beauty of dying. The music also consoled the family and me. It was a true blessing from God." -- Reverend Tammy Miller

Those who hear HEAVENLY ASSURANCE VOCAL are comforted by the Presence of a Loving Heavenly Father as they listen to this tape.

“As Assistant Activity Director, part of my job is to do room visits for our non-responsive patients. Over the years I have seen these patients turn their heads towards me with a sparkle in their eye whenever I play Diana’s music. Because of the tender response I get from my patients, I now only use Diana’s tapes for these special patients with so many needs. Her gentle voice and soft music gives the patients hope and is very healing for them.” – Renee Hardy, Assistant Activity Director.

“Our task as Parish Nurses is to make the connection between the problems of the body, and the problems of the soul. True health has to do with a person's relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Through the words of the hymns, the spiritual songs, and the scriptures prayed on these tapes, God has provided a way to open the door of my clients' hearts - to bring healing to a heart of stone, and to comfort the losses and loneliness He is bringing them through. They feel the compassionate love and companionship of the Holy Spirit as they listen to these tapes.

I just love to listen to them whenever I can myself. These tapes are Musical Medicine for the Soul. -- Mary Ann Wright, RN, Parish Nurse

Letter from Poly Mowrey, Litchfield, AZ
“I wanted to take a minute and share with you the impact your music and message prayers have meant to my mother who has been diagnosed with terminal Alzheimer’s. She is confined to a nursing home where the activities director plays your tapes. What a tremendous blessing they are to everyone. They join in the “Our Father” prayer and sing along (these are patients who no longer speak).

My mother as a child received Christ as her Savior, but has drifted away through the years. At age 82 she is being restored to Him through the Holy Spirit’s anointing of your ministry. We both will sit and listen and weep together. Thank you dear one.

Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International Newsletter, Spring 1996:
“I have listened to Diana’s music tapes, and took COMFORTING LOVE to the nursing home and played I for my mother who has Alzheimer’s. You would not believe how it affected her; it brought smiles, nods and words. One of the aides hearing the music said “that would be a blessing to many of these people here.” I can understand why Diana’s ministry of hope, comfort, healing and assurance is such a blessing to people in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and those who are dealing with grief and loss or depression. I highly recommend them to you. You won’t be sorry. The tapes truly bring a profound peace and presence of God through the ministry of her music and the prayer. Music is truly medicine for the soul.

San Diego Hospice Nurses say…
“We use Diana’s tapes for Pain Management. All of her Comfort Series cassettes have a calming effect on our terminally ill patients. Her reassuring prayers give them hope and help them not to be so afraid of the dying process”. - Mary Lee Sheflo and Yvonne Maybery, Hospice Nurses

Dawn Rudluff, Activity Director at Lemon Grove Convalescent Hospital shares: "I grew very close to one of our patients who was dying. When she slipped into a coma, I went to her bedside and held her hand, and told her about Diana's tape, HEAVENLY ASSURANCE VOCAL. I told her, "If I knew how to tell you what is in my heart I would, but I don't know how to express what I feel for you. I have a tape I am going to play for you that says everything I want to share with you". The patient died within 24 hours, but in her death process, she heard beautiful music and scriptural promises about her future home in heaven.

Betty Murphy, Activity Director at Stanford Court, La Mesa, CA, comments: The patients love her tape. I played HEAVENLY ASSURANCE VOCAL bedside for a patient who was in a coma. There were four family members in the room. They shared with me the next day how much they appreciated hearing the tape - the message of a heavenly home really blessed them and comforted them in their grieving process".

Jimmy Graham was diagnosed with cancer in 1995. In January of 1997, his wife began playing COMFORTING LOVE and HEAVENLY ASSURANCE VOCAL for her husband. He passed away the end of February, 1997.

There were times Jimmy felt unloved by God due to his illness. He experienced feelings of unworthiness, fear, and doubt. The tapes calmed his spirit and helped him with his fears concerning the dying process. They reassured him of God's love for him. Jimmy wanted to hear them repeatedly.

Jimmy had a seizure ten days before he died which left him unable to speak. He just kept pointing to the cassette player so he could hear the tapes over and over again.

Researcher Explores Spirituality’s Role in Health
(Article by Dr. Robert L. Hatch, Assistant Professor of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine. San Diego Senior World Magazine, 8-97.)

“I’ve seen people who had no spiritual connection who have struggled tremendously with things, and then seen people who had such a connection not be so tormented. They have handled pain better. From talking with them, I got the sense that their spiritual beliefs and practices helped them. Throughout history, millions of people have believed in a higher power and turned to religion for aid and comfort.

Spirituality might make a difference because it gives a person a support network. There is clear data that people who have social support do much better than others.

A group of severely ill people who were prayed for did better than those who were not. We must be respectful of an individual’s beliefs.”

This is Mary Parrish. She used to sing opera. She had a very high soprano range. She has always loved music. Now, she can no longer talk. She lives on a feeder tube and sites in her chair day after day, frequently crying in pain.

Mary used to go to church regularly. She used to sing in the choir. She also sang concerts in her church. She was a very active and independent person. Her spiritual care in the hospital is very limited. This is the time she needs it the most. She is fortunate if she hears a church service once a week.

Mary really enjoys the hymns. They bring her peace, and help her focus on other things than her circumstances.

A Nurse's Testimony for her Patient's Spiritual Well-Being

I am a nurse who attends a Messianic congregation. I took care of a patient whose ethnic background was Jewish for 2 1/2 years. She had congestive heart failure, and arthritis. I worked for her three times a week.

She shared with me how she never went to a temple in her life. She never read any religious books or articles. She felt religion was for people who needed a crutch.

Occasionally, I would sing Jewish songs while taking care of her. She always seemed to enjoy this, and calmed down. At other times, she was extremely anxious.

During the last month of this patient's life, I asked her if she would like to listen to HEAVENLY ASSURANCE (Vocal). She agreed to this. I put a headset on her so she could be alone with her thoughts. As she listened to side one of the cassette, I could see tears on her face. When the tape ended, she asked to hear side two. In the 2 1/2 years I have worked for her, this was the first time she ever showed any emotions.

Normally, her attention span was very short. She listened intently to the message on this tape. It was time for me to go home. I said goodbye, and she was still very pensive.

When I saw her two days later, she told me she prayed to God. She had a peace now she did not have before.

Laws regarding spiritual care in skilled nursing facilities:

CALIFORNIA RESIDENT'S RIGHTS
Skilled Nursing Facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities
Sections 72527, Title 22, California Administrative Code14.

To meet with others and participate in activities of social, religious and community groups.

18. To have visits from members of the clergy at any time at the request of the resident or the resident's representative.OBRA Regulation 483.10 (J) 2, Federal Register

Vol. 54 No. 21

Thursday, February 2, 1989

Rules and Regulations

A facility must provide access to any resident or entity or individual that provides health, social, legal, or other services to the resident, subject to the resident's right to deny or withdraw consent at any time.

Mr. Vern Tapp of the Department of Health Services (916) 445-0174 (March 14, 1996) said the above OBRA Regulation applies to a resident's right to hear the hymns at any time per their consent.