Lorne Hart likes listening to country music, but he loves playing it. Right now Lorne is at Providence Care Hospital receiving therapy, but that hasn’t stopped him from doing what he loves. Lorne and a group of his friends have been providing entertainment for patients on one of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation units. In fact, they started playing music together years ago at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital.
When we sat down with Lorne to ask him what led him to start playing music for our patients he said, “I like giving back”. We discussed the familiar idiom that “it’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand”. Lorne said that he plans to make the best of his scenario and in turn, help other people who are in a similar situation of going through rehabilitation and recovery.  It was clear that he has a positive outlook on his rehabilitation and, through music, hopes to bring joy to the other patients at Providence Care Hospital.
Lorne has played regularly at Providence Manor, Trillium, and Rosewood Retirement Residence for many years. He spoke about building relationships with the people that come to hear him and his friends play music. Lorne said that it doesn’t matter how many people come to hear him play; if even one person enjoys his music he feels he has done his job.
Our conversation then moved from talking about music, to talking about silence and the power of listening. He spoke highly of his care team at Providence Care Hospital, and said that sometimes the best thing you can do for your patient is to listen and to hear what he or she is saying. By listening, by offering a caring smile, or by playing a bit of music, you can change someone’s day. It was evident from talking with Lorne that sometimes the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact.
