Published Thursday, December 29th, 2005

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

Libby Watrous spends a few hours each Wednesday at Kadlec Medical Center pulling on patients' heartstrings by plucking the strings of her harp.

The Richland musical therapist helps mend emotional hurts and ease stress in patients and hospital workers.

"This is powerful medicine with no side effects," says Watrous, who has been walking the halls since September.

"It brings an overall calm and healing, and it is soothing to our staff too," said Amy Carrasco, Kadlec's education manager.

Having a roving harpist is the latest addition to the music therapy at Kadlec, which has provided live piano music for staff, patients and visitors for a year.

But Watrous can go where the piano can't.

With the specially sized harp supported by a strap over her shoulder, Watrous can walk about and pluck strings -- going from room to room in a seamless flow of melody, playing easy listening music like the New Christy Minstrels' Today or The Wind Beneath My Wings.

Doris Taylor of Pasco recognized a familiar song Wednesday and signaled to Watrous to come into her room for a private performance.

"Last week she played Christmas music. It made me feel so appreciated and feel better," Taylor said. "She brings such joy for us."

Every weekly visit includes rounds to the hospital's wards for oncology, surgery, rehabilitation, the birthing center, critical care, pediatrics and intermediate care.

Watrous said she was inspired to become a volunteer musician after seeing the way a dying, cancer-stricken friend responded to the soothing tones.

"I played for her every day. I saw my friend go from clinching and twisting bed sheets to having open palms and being relaxed just because of the music," she said.

Both were members of the Shalom Church in Richland and the Mid-Columbia Symphony, where Watrous played a full-sized harp and her friend, Martha Jack, played the clarinet and other single-reed instruments. The friends also played together at the Hospice of the Tri-Cities.

"The seed was planted then," Watrous said.

Cancer patient Arlene Toback of Pasco remembers the first time she heard Watrous with her harp at Kadlec.

"Everybody who could, came to their doors to see where the music was coming from. She brings beautiful joy to us in here," Toback said.

No visit to Kadlec is complete without a special performance, usually a command performance, for at least one nursing station.

Carrasco said the hospital wants to expand its musical therapy by adding more roving musicians with acoustic guitars and violins.

It's part of Kadlec's philosophy that fits the Planetree model for trying to provide holistic healing, patient-centered care and making a hospital experience as positive as possible, Carrasco said.