It was a warm, summer afternoon in Mattawan, Michigan. The voices of former band member and Centrica Care Navigators hospice patient Phil Ollero and Centrica Music Therapist Tommy King filled the Ollero’s dining room with sweet harmonies as sunlight beamed through the windows and birds chirped outside.
“How can the end of life be beautiful?”
Many ask this question. The answer isn’t often clear.
For Phil, family, faith, and music have carried him through life’s highs and lows and are a central part of who he is. Even in his final chapter, he and his wife, Nancy, are rediscovering what beauty and joy look like in the midst of a terminal illness.
Phil and “The Fabulous Group”
Originally from the Philippines, Phil and his three brothers were always a tight-knit group. He remembers his childhood fondly, recalling how they’d sit around the table passing a book of songs around to sing. When their mother died at a young age, they learned to rely on each other for support.
Phil, his brothers, and a classmate were looking for a way to make money in their teen years and saw an opportunity. After buying some instruments, they formed “The Fabulous Group” and started entertaining U.S. troops from Vietnam stationed in the Philippines. While performing at a show, they were discovered by a USO (United Service Organizations) agent and invited to come to the United States.
In 1971, they came to the U.S. with big plans and dreams. They toured the country for a few years before Phil settled down in Michigan and eventually met his wife, Nancy. But singing remained a part of his livelihood as he continued playing solo shows and even acted as an Elvis impersonator.
Music Remains Magical
Now, life looks a little different for Phil. One year ago, he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and other physical and non-motor functions.
Nancy, his wife of 41 years and caregiver, called Centrica Care Navigators when she saw his disease progress and realized she could get more help and support from a team of hospice experts.
“I don’t know what I’d do without them. They’re all so helpful and amazing at what they do, and it lessens the tasks on my shoulders so I can focus on being with him. We love everyone on the team, but Phil especially likes Tommy, his Music Therapist.”
Tommy provides music therapy every other week and is always learning new songs to play and sing with Phil. Phil likes challenging Tommy by requesting lesser-known songs, but at the end of the day, he enjoys all genres of music, especially rock-and-roll.
These visits not only give Nancy and Phil something to look forward to, but they provide an opportunity to reminisce about cherished memories, set aside the day’s worries, and celebrate a life filled with love.
Beautiful Life
So again, we pose the question, “How can the end of life be beautiful?”
Thanks to Phil, we’re reminded that beauty at the end of life isn’t found in the absence of illness. It’s found in moments of connection, in rediscovering who you are beyond your diagnosis and in holding close the people and passions that have always defined you. This is where peace, meaning and even joy can still be found.
