A Heartbeat That Heals

From the moment Anna joined the family 11 years ago, she felt at home.

“We’re high school sweethearts,” she said of her husband, Justus. “And our very first Christmas together, Grandpa Gary immediately welcomed me in. He treated me like a granddaughter from the start.”

That’s just who Gary was. His arms were always open, his home always warm, and his heart always full. Gary and his wife, Kate, were a couple everyone admired. To Justus, Gary was more than a grandfather; he was a steady, fatherly presence and a source of comfort through every stage of life.

When Anna and Justus shared they were expecting, Gary and Kate were overjoyed. “They supported us through everything,” Anna remembered.

Anna and Justus’ daughter, Jeanie, was born at just 33 weeks and spent 57 days in the NICU. The first place they visited after she came home was Grandma and Grandpa’s house. “Their bond grew so strong, so fast,” Anna said. “Jeanie adored him. She always wanted to be with Grandpa Gary.”

When Gary was diagnosed with ALS, the entire family felt the weight of it. He lost his voice early on, and communicating became difficult.

As his health declined, Gary entered hospice care with Ecumen. Anna, who had recently joined the Ecumen Hospice team herself, was by his side, helping care for him and support her mother-in-law, Melissa, who was his primary caregiver.

It was during that time that Anna learned about Ecumen’s Heartbeat Recording Legacy Project, which combines a patient’s heartbeat with meaningful music to create a lasting keepsake for loved ones.

Martha, a board-certified music therapist with Ecumen Hospice, visited to record Gary’s heartbeat. He passed away while she was present, and the family was grateful to have captured his last few heartbeats.

For Anna, hearing the recording for the first time was both painful and healing. The family chose the song “Even Though I’m Leaving.” A tribute that perfectly reflected Gary’s deep bond with his daughter, Melissa.

Looking back, Anna feels immense gratitude for the compassion and personalized care Ecumen provided. “The hospice team didn’t just care for Gary,” she said. “They cared for all of us.”

If Gary could know his heartbeat was preserved in this way, Anna believes he would be deeply moved. “He was such a sentimental man,” she said. “Knowing that it brings peace to our family would give him comfort. He was the glue that held us all together.”

Because of generosity like yours, families like Gary’s can hold onto the sound of a heartbeat, and the love it represents, forever.

Make a gift to support meaningful moments like Gary’s. Listen to the song recording of Gary’s heartbeat here.