our patients. Whether it be the click of a metronome to assist a patient to synchronize their steps when learning to walk again or singing happy birthday to a patient with a brain injury and seeing them smile for the first time again. Back when I practiced we did not have the science to demonstrate how this worked, we just knew it did. Now, we have research and science to prove that music can play an important and predicable role in the recovery process. Our students are seeing first hand, the power of their music.

The GSA visual arts students are playing a critical role as well. Close to twenty student artists applied for consideration to create artwork for the courtyard at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. High school senior Aisling Figeroa was chosen from the group by hospital leaders for her design inspiring renewal and healing. Additionally, she will hold her senior art show at the SMMC new office suite at the Sentara Heart Hospital. I really enjoy helping people through my art. And the process of writing a proposal and communicating the concept of my art was an invaluable experience, says Aisling.

The GSA music students are currently playing twice a month within Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and there are plans to bring more music to the patients. Concert dates and times are listed in our classes and events calendar: www.Sentara.com/events . The impact is great, as one of the GSA musicians, Tyler James noted You can really see in their eyes how special it is to them and they can see how special it is to us.

For more information about this program and the Sentara Mu-sic and Medicine Center, visit www.Sentara.com/SMMC and to support the efforts of our most talented youth to improve health every day, visit www.sentara.com/foundation.

SENTARA FOUNDATION - HAMPTON ROADSSpring 2014 Volume 20

Collaboration at Its Best Sentara and the The Governors School for the Arts

We often hear that medicine is a team sport which means that healthcare requires collaboration and commitment of many caregivers to heal a patient. With this in mind, a brand new partnership with young musicians and visual artists is providing music medicine, art and the opportunity for these students to make a difference in the health of their community.

Working together, The Governors School for the Arts (GSA) and the Sentara Music and Medicine Center (SMMC), are offering live concerts for patients, families and visitors at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Sentara Heart Hospital. The performances have been met with rave reviews!

SMMC was established to advance the diagnosis and treatment of certain neurological disorders, enhance the healing process

and improve clinical outcomes. The center is a part of the Sentara Neurosciences Institute,

a network of neuroscience experts dedicated to education, prevention,

research and treatment of neurologic disorders.

Kurt Hofelich, President of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital states

As a prior physical therapist, I always knew there was

a value to music in the rehabilitation process of

As part of the Music and Medicine program, The Govenors School for the Arts students, Aisling Figeroa (top) and Tyler James (below) share their talents with Sentara patients and families

On Christmas Eve, 2013, Ira Neal was spending time with his family at his son's house when he started to feel strange. For the past two months he had been slightly short of breath, but he thought it was probably just part of getting older Ira is 71. Thinking it was just heartburn, he grabbed a bottle of Tums and continued to celebrate with his family. The next morning, Ira's wife, Lori, noticed he was holding his chest and suggested they check his blood pressure. It was 199/120. Not possible, they thought. The monitor must be broken. Ira took some more Tums and headed to his wife's aunt's house to celebrate Christmas with his grandchildren.

After they arrived, Ira went back out to the car to get some presents. That's when it hit him. Ira broke out in a cold sweat and his vision blurred. He began to feel very tired and thought maybe he would just take a quick nap in the car. Something in the back of his mind told him if he did that, he would never wake up. When he turned to go back into the house, he thought someone had smashed him in the chest with a 2 x 4. The door to the house looked like it was at the end of a mile-long tunnel.

Ira Neal is no stranger to stress. A veteran of the Vietnam War and a Police Officer for the City of Newport News for 16 years, he has dealt with some traumatic events. In the mid-nineties, one of his fellow officers was gunned down during an undercover mission and another was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect. Through all this, Ira continued to serve and protect his community. He even received the distinguished Life-Saving Award for performing CPR on a heart attack victim. When he decided to retire in 2005 he weighed 250 lbs. and realized that he needed to make healthier eating and lifestyle choices. By December of 2013, Iras new habits were starting to pay off, and as a result, his weight went down to 190 lbs.

The Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery supplies blood to a large portion of the left side of the heart. When there is a critical blockage in this artery, the entire left/front side of the heart can lose its blood supply causing a severe heart attack. When this happens, the patient only has minutes before the muscle dies. This type of heart attack is aptly called the Widowmaker" because many patients do not survive it.

"Sentara was like walking into Heaven," said Ira, remembering his arrival to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center (SWRMC). It took Ira a moment to realize that the large group of people he saw were all waiting for him. "It was so well orchestrated, you could have put music to it," Ira joked. He was rushed to Cath Lab immediately for his procedure. In an instant, he was looking up at Dr. Das who was telling him he was going to be fine. Ira's procedure was over. The surgeons had implanted a stent into his LAD to keep the artery open. He had beaten the Widowmaker.

Ira is incredibly grateful to everyone who helped him survive this painstaking incident. I dont want to say I want a heart attack again, but Id go back to that place in the drop of a hat, proclaimed Ira, referring to SWRMC. Three days a week hes in rehab at SWRMC where hes learning how to exercise, eat right, and manage stress. Hes particularly impressed with the mental health services offered in Sentaras rehab program which can be incredibly helpful for heart attack survivors to continue their recovery.

Surviving the Widowmaker was the best Christmas present he received, and his ongoing effort toward healthy choices will be the gift he gives himself for many years to come.

Dr. Surjya Das:Ira. Are you okay? Can you hear me?

Ira Neal:Yes Sir.

Dr. Surjya Das:You're going to be fine. You beat the

Widowmaker.

Ira Neal, survivor of the Widowmaker

2

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