Short story: The Blessed Gift

In the early 60’s, my dear mother had to go to a nursing home due to a stroke. I looked around to find a nice one and finally found a real lovely place for her in the Long Beach area where we lived.

After being there awhile, I noticed that there was no piano in the Recreation Room. How sad! I thought that maybe someday I could afford to donate one. Time went by, and finally I was blessed with a small inheritance. I looked for a used piano in the Penny Saver and found a beautiful black spinet, a Baldwin, and I bought it. I had it delivered to the nursing home.

There was a lady there who had not spoken a word since she arrived many months before. They tried everything to get her to talk, but to no avail. One day she heard the music playing. Then she followed the sound down the hall to the Recreation Room. When the person playing stopped and left the room, she sat down and started playing like a concert artist! She started talking and said she was a famous concert artist in her day.

What a blessing it was to hear and see a miracle unfold right before the eyes of everyone there.

After Mama died, I had a small gold plaque put on the piano that read: “In memory of Elizabeth M. Walsh, R.N.”

She was a private duty nurse in several hospitals in and around the Long Beach area for many years.  She retired at the age of 75.

I’m sure the patients are still enjoying listening to the music as it comes wafting down the hall. I know my dear mama is enjoying it too in heaven.

Helen Hampton is a member of the writing class offered through the Cerritos College Adult Education Program.  It is held off-campus at the Norwalk Senior Center.