In her case, it was "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones. Ellen's son, Max, has cerebral palsy and suffered at stroke at birth. This song came out about the time Max was born and so whenever she hears it, she's carried back to that time and all those car trips to various doctors and therapists.
I have a song like that as well.
Lily had open heart surgery at 4 months of age. While she lay recovering in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, we played a lot of soft music in her room. It gave everyone something consistent and pleasant to listen to in the midst of all the noisy machinery.
One song in particular just spoke to me and soothed my soul in the middle of some of the scariest days of my life.
Now I'd like to say it was something deeply spiritual, filled with rich verses of Scripture.
But that would not be true.
While much Scripture did bring me comfort, Alicia Key's song, "If I Ain't Got You" reminded me that nothing in the world at that time was as important to me as a living, breathing baby girl with a healthy heart. Not to sound overly dramatic, but it's funny how meaningless "stuff" becomes when you're in the midst of a life and death situation.
I cannot listen to that song to this day without crying.
When I hear it, I am swept right back to that hospital room, surrounded by beeping and blinking medical equipment, with nurses quietly coming in and out. I am putting my hands on my baby girl and pleading with God to heal her. To let us take her home. To let her be a part of our family. To love her.
Such a simple song. Such powerful emotions.
Do you have a song like that? One that stops you in your tracks and transports you to another place or time? I'd love for you to share it with me.
This post wouldn't be complete with giving you an opportunity to hear the song that takes me back. Click here to listen.
Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel. Not because it takes me back to a particular moment in time, more of an era....young, free, excited for what my future would be, first love, all that good stuff. It was the late 80's and for some reason, this is the time that song can instantly bring me back to. :)
ReplyDeleteOne Moment by Vicky Yohe and Anthony Evans. My son had heart surgery also at 4 mos. As you know challenging times. I listened to One Moment leading up to it, through it and after when we received his full diagnosis. The lyrics talk about restoring joy and needing peace in the midst of the storm. Reminds me of what God has brought us through and is still one of my go to songs as we continue on our journey.
ReplyDeleteAs a mom of a 14 year old daughter with Down Syndrome I have a few songs. One is hilarously enough is Just Keep Swimming from Finding Nemo. Casey is a Special Olymipic swimmer and at her first ever race she was having a hard time finishing. Noone else was in the pool. Her teamates started to sing it. And she finsihed. This song represents to me how amazing the DS and SO communities is and how detirmined Casey is. Casey has had lots of challenges(heart surgery,broncitis, pnemounia etc) but she just swims through all the times when life has her down. More seriously the song Mother's Love by Kem. It was playing in the car when we were driving to the hospital. That song brings me back to our little red pick up, the traffic jam, my pain and worry. I always cry when I hear it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. The emotional memories music carries are so powerful; I was amazed how many people had songs tied to their kids' lives.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a beautiful thing that you have that tie to music. I did not have a song that relates to my son. But he does - his song is "Say" by John Mayer. :)
ReplyDeleteStevie Nicks -Red River Valley
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