JJ Blow Your Horn!

JJ is a 76-year-old Agape patient who is living at a Denver nursing facility.  Soon after enrolling in hospice care, JJ was visited by Agape volunteer Sue Jones. The two “clicked,” becoming friends in a hot hurry. 

This mutual trust led JJ to share about his life, his loves and his appreciation for Sue being patient with his quiet and sometimes hard- to-understand speech. Early on, Sue learned that JJ used to play and was crazy about the saxophone, but he hadn't picked one up in years.

Once she learned about JJ's love of the sax, Sue got to work. After multiple phone calls around the community, Agape Volunteer Coordinator Eve located a sax through Marty Goldstein (another beloved volunteer). What Eve, Marty and Sue coordinated became music to JJ's ears.

Here is Sue’s update about her first visit with the sax. She said: 

“JJ kept kissing my hands and thanking me (and Agape) for making him feel ‘like he was in heaven.’ He spent a lot of time just touching all the keys and hardware, admiring the instrument and telling me about his previous musical experience beginning as a young boy. He was the only one in his family to play any type of instrument and spent hours each evening and weekend practicing until he was good enough to play in a band. One of the highlights of his life was to play with his band on the Queen Mary in Southern California! The first several tries produced no sounds at all, but JJ kept at it until he was able to get a few squeaky notes and then deeper tones. JJ has been instructed to do breathing exercises and he believes that practicing playing the saxophone will really increase his breathing capacity. After a three-hour visit, I promised to bring the saxophone again next week. He gave me a huge hug and was at a loss for words to express how much he enjoyed being able to see, hold, and play his favorite instrument.”

JJ has been instructed to do breathing exercises and he believes that practicing playing the saxophone will really increase his breathing capacity. After a three-hour visit, I promised to bring the saxophone again next week. He gave me a huge hug and was at a loss for words to express how much he enjoyed being able to see, hold, and play his favorite instrument.”

Eve, Marty and Sue, what a show of kindness, resourcefulness and teamwork! Agape volunteers bring joy to people’s lives in such personal ways. --Beth Kelly, Volunteer Services Manager