"Heartworks" Gallery

Kavi & Yash
Making Music with Michael
Keystone Kids Camp
Music Adds Life to the Party
Music to Soothe the Spirit
Sydney's Song
"Here's to Life"
"Alleluia"

A Dancer's Renaissance
Kavi & Yash
Sydney's Song
Keystone Kids Camp

Artist Trading Cards
A Blessing For Marybeth
Charlie's Chair
Lasting Impressions
John's Art Legacy
Anna's Bracelets
A Caregiver's Collage
Keystone Kids Camp

What Are Creative Arts Therapies?

Making Music with Michael

When he was five, The Dukes of Hazzard was Michael’s favorite TV show. He loved watching Luke and Bo Duke fly through the air every week in their revved up 1969 Dodge Charger, The General Lee, outrunning Boss Hogg and Sheriff Coltrane. The show’s freewheeling antics and action ignited in Michael a lifelong desire to drive and a fascination with all things relating to fictional Hazzard County.

However, Michael’s life took a different turn at age seven, when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He endured years of hospital visits, treatments and surgeries that left him with life-limiting mental and physical disabilities. In June 2006, after exhausting all available treatment options, Michael and his parents decided to end the frustrating trips to the hospital and receive Keystone Hospice care at home. After improving Michael’s quality of life with pain and symptom management and emotional support for over a year, Keystone Hospice’s caregivers became like family. They had earned Michael’s trust by taking the time to listen and understand his likes and dislikes, respecting his cares, wishes and desires.

Nurse Bobbi Zimmaro went a step further in caring for Michael. Knowing that Michael is a huge Dukes of Hazzard fan and proud of his extensive collection of show memorabilia and VHS series of all seven seasons, she was intrigued to see a photo of The General Lee on the wall of Dr. Alex Page’s office. Learning that the doctor was the owner of the car and also an avid fan of the show, Bobbi asked him if he would visit Michael to give him a ride in the car. Dr. Page graciously agreed to do so. After weeks of anticipation, the bright orange General Lee turned the corner and pulled up in front of Michael’s house. A beaming smile spread across Michael’s face as he sat in the car, looking at cast member signatures on the dashboard and having his picture taken behind the wheel. After driving the car around the neighborhood, the two fans shared stories and Michael received several show-related gifts from Dr. Page.

It was truly a special day for Michael, sharing his love for his favorite TV show and experiencing the joy of riding in his fantasy car. What most impressed Michael’s mom Karen was that the doctor took the time to do such a wonderfully meaningful thing for her son. As she explains, “God has put angels out there to help us through this, and today happened because the angels connected things as they were meant to.”

Good Ol' Boys

Just the good ol' boys, never meaning no harm                 
Beats all you ever saw, been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born
Straightening the curves, flattening the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em
But the law never will   
Making their way, any way they know how
hat's just a little bit more than the law will allow                                                

I'm a good ol' boy,
you know my mama loves me                                             

She loves me so much that we took a ride
in the General Lee

Just the good ol' boys, wouldn’t change if they could     
Fightin' the system
like a true modern day robin hood

Photos: Cindy Leonard and Laura Thomae

Click above to listen to a song recording Michael made with his Dad.