My song

Matt has been unwell for about a week now. High temperatures, vomiting and diarrhoea. It looked like he was getting better on Sunday, but on Monday afternoon the fever struck with a vengeance. We started him on antibiotics. Tuesday we saw no improvement – in fact most of the day was spent keeping his temperature down as it would climb high the minute the meds wore off. Today he was diagnosed with tonsillitis. Now we know what we are dealing with and have adjusted his antibiotics appropriately. I am hoping the high temperatures will pass soon.

It has been tough for Matt – he has really been feeling unwell. He has been so droopy and clinging. I can’t explain to him what is happening to him, so on one level I have felt frustrated. But on the other hand, since I cannot rely on words for explaining, I have discovered a very precious way of communicating comfort and reassurance to him – through song. My song. Now I am not a great singer by any stretch of the imagination, yet my simple tunes, though sung in a slightly off key manner, seem to really touch him. On Monday night he woke up with such a high temp that he was shivering so violently that he could hardly move his limbs. Whilst we were waiting for his temperature to come down, I cuddled him on my lap with his head against my chest. I could tell that he was tense and confused about what was happening to him. I started singing and immediately he calmed him and snuggled in closer. He knew that he was safe. I know he felt my love and care for him through my song. Music has many values, but over the past few days I have seen its visible effects on Matt’s body. I have been struck by what an amazing gift music is to us as humans.