CDs and Lullabies

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I am making my way through the lobby of Nassau University Medical Center, past the cafeteria, the large screen TVs broadcasting CNN and the baby grand player piano that a pre-school student visitor recently declared, "plays by magic.”

I have laser pinpoint direction and vision, walking swiftly to medical records as if it is the final destination in a video game. I am grateful that today, I am not visiting the family member who was discharged in July but an administration office that can give me a copy of tests and results for an impending visit to a new doctor next month.

As the employee finds the details on his computer and orders the CDs and paper reports I have time to look around the office. There are remnants of home — a Shutterfly calendar with smiling faces, a computer generated prayer for grace and strength, some Christmas decorations that aren't coming down because they quote poignant Silent Night lyrics. It's almost like there is a concerted effort to remind me that this transaction is not as mundane as it seems, but rather the culmination of a long rehabilitation journey that I am hoping has a happy ending.


Suddenly there is a lullaby tinkling from the overhead speakers and the man behind the desk says, "Good luck buddy." At first this comment doesn't register as I figure he must be talking to the computer the way we all are prone to do. But then he tells me something amazing.

"Every time that song is played a new baby has just been born in our hospital."
Wow.

I look up the reference online and sure enough, NUMC gives the parents "an opportunity to press a button for a lullaby to be played throughout the unit." I am nowhere near the maternity floor but I am moved to tears.

For the last few months this has been a place to worry, to follow up, to sit and contemplate and encourage and advocate within the walls. Today, it is a place to prolong life and celebrate new ones. It's not what I expected, but miracles seldom are. 

A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is an East Meadow resident and a direct marketing/advertising executive who teaches advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, LIU Post and SUNY Old Westbury.