To Preserve & Share a Song

Our stories about meaningful experiences are written as they unfold. Therefore, most stories are in the present tense. Some of the patients in these stories are no longer with us. They, and their families, gave us permission to share their experience with you. For those who have since passed, we share these in their memories with deep appreciation for what they have taught us about life and living.

All her life, Lois Harrison used the gift of her voice to express and share her faith.  Singing was very important to her. But, now in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease, Lois could no longer speak. 

It is very important to our care teams that people know their lives have meaning even though they face new limitations.  Sally, a chaplain at our hospice, wanted Lois to know that her life and her work still had great meaning, even without her voice. 

Lois wasn’t just a singer, she was a songwriter too.  One song she had written, “Welcome Home,” had special meaning now.  She wanted to use her recorded voice to share that meaning and encourage others. 

Lois has been singing with Allen and the Arvin Sisters (she was one of the sisters) for long enough that the only recording of “Welcome Home” was on cassette tape. 

She, Sally, and Mr. Harrison came up with a plan to digitize the song so they could share it with faith communities, whom they’d ask to play it on a specific Sunday. She needed a digital version if she was going to share it with churches. 

We created a video for social media featuring the song and put out a public call for help with the digitizing project. 

Shaunna Patton, a social worker with Caretenders at the time, connected us with Pastor B.J. Strautman with Living Water Church.  He agreed to digitize the song for Lois so that she could share it with worship leaders to use.

Parkinson’s may have taken Lois Harrison’s voice, but never her ability to share her faith with others.

The following video was created to honor Lois’s wish to share her gift with others. We share it here with deep respect, in her memory.

How can you honor life during National Hospice & Palliative Care Month? Visit the #WeHonorLife campaign page to learn about all the ways you can help, from volunteering and shopping to helping us increase access to specialized care for the seriously ill and their families. Questions? Contact us at hospice@hospicecp.org or 859-986-1500 or visit our website.