4 minute read
Kathaumixw lights up centenarian
by Sean Percy
BY LYNN MCCANN
It was April of 2016. My mother, Ruth Allen, was nearing her 102nd birthday and occupied the palliative care room at qathet General Hospital. My sister Barb, my cousin Muriel and I spent our days at her bedside, trying to encourage her to have a sip of this or a bite of that as Mom was no longer eating or drinking on her own.
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She could no longer lift her head from her pillow without assistance. She had gone downhill very quickly, and we feared we would soon be saying our final goodbyes.
One morning I arrived at the hospital with the International Choral Kathaumixw Profiles publication, featuring the choirs which would be coming to perform and compete in July. While Mom napped, I pored over the concert lineups trying to figure out which concerts I would choose in order to hear the greatest variety of singers.
This was a monumental task as every year amazing children, youth and adult choirs gathered from around the globe, and each one would be a treat to hear. I had made my decisions and finished filling out the order form just as Mom opened her eyes. She saw the paper in my hand and since her voice no longer had any strength, she whispered, “What is that?”
I told Mom I had just completed the order form for Kathaumixw and would be leaving after Barb arrived to go get my tickets for the concerts.
Her eyes lit up, something I had not witnessed since she had entered the hospital.
She whispered, “Get mine, too. I want to go!”
I couldn’t believe it! There she was, almost skeletal, on her deathbed, and she wanted to go to Kathaumixw! She had attended every Kathaumixw since its inception and had hosted many billets from around the world until she was into her 90s. Over those many years, Kathaumixw had become part of her soul.
“Well you can’t get to Kathaumixw in a hospital bed,” I told her. “If you want to go, you will have to get strong enough to stand and transfer into a wheelchair and have enough stamina to sit through a concert.”
“You get me tickets and I will get strong enough to go,” she responded.
“Would you like to go to the opening and maybe the closing concerts?” I asked.
“No, I want a set of tickets. I want to go to all the concerts,” she replied firmly.
“Okay,” I laughed. “If you want to go, I’ll get you a set of tickets. Just remember, I won›t be able to take you if you are not strong enough to handle it.”
“You get the ticket and I’ll be ready,” she promised.
Just then, Barb and Muriel arrived. I grinned at them, “I believe you won’t need to coax Mom to eat or drink anymore. She has become inspired to regain her health!”
“How do you know?” my sister asked.
“She wants to go to Kathaumixw and will do anything to get there,” I answered.
Mom’s doctor was astounded! He believed he was witnessing a miracle.
It wasn’t long before she was released from the hospital and was back in her room at Willingdon Creek Village. The physiotherapists helped her strengthen her muscles and soon she was able to transfer into a wheelchair and even walk with assistance.
Mom was so excited as we arrived at the Great Hall for the Gala Opening Concert. She held court on the upper concourse as dozens of friends stopped by to chat with her. She immersed herself in the music. She went home energized.
The next day, she was ready and eager for the next event. She didn’t miss a concert during the whole, five days.
I’m sure Don James, the founder of Kathaumixw, was aware of the therapeutic value of music, but could he ever have imagined that the power of his marvelous festival could raise someone from their deathbed?
INTERNATIONAL CHORAL KATHAUMIXW
When: July 4 to 8
What: qathet’s biggest festival hosts choirs from as far away as Uganda, Venezuela and Phillipinnes, as well as all over Canada and the USA (not to mention local choirs).
Tickets and more: kathaumixw.org