Louisville Magazine

FEB 2012

Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.

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[ Medicine ] Medical Musicality >>By Judith Egerton Photos by John Nation Healthcare facilities throughout the region and across the nation are taking note of a remarkable music- therapy program at Norton Audubon Hospital. A fter complicated intestinal surgery and weeks in intensive care at Nor- ton Audubon Hospital, Carolyn Galloway feared she would never leave the building. But her outlook changed after a slim young woman with spiky dark hair and guitar in hand arrived at the patient's bedside. Tat woman was Jenny Bran- son, 35, leader of the hospital's ambitious music-therapy program — the first in the region to offer multifaceted music-centered support, whether through impromptu performance, requested recordings or, at times, the therapeutic use of instruments and voice by the patients themselves. [38] LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 2.12 "Jenny brings so much joy, such com- fort," says the 68-year-old Galloway, from Brooks, Ky. "It's peaceful and soothing. When you are in pain, here comes this beautiful voice. It helps more than I ex- pected." As this past Christmas neared, Bran- son again visited Galloway in her hospital room. Te red-haired woman's tense face brightened when she saw the therapist, who immediately asked about her level of pain and other concerns. Galloway report- ed that she had been unable to sleep and that her pain level felt like 6 on a scale of 1to10. After encouraging Galloway to accept pain medication when needed (older pa- tients are often reluctant), Branson offered to sing to her. "Easy breathing through your nose," the therapist said as she strummed her folk guitar and began softly singing the traditional holiday carol "Te First Noel." Galloway closed her eyes. Te tightness in her face slowly relaxed. As Branson sang, she observed the easing of tension in the patient's musculature. "Let your shoul- ders relax," she said gently before singing a hushed version of "Away in a Manger." Before drifting to sleep, Galloway whis- pered, "Tat was beautiful."

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