‘Amazing Grace’ reimagined: A patient’s heartbeat becomes a final gift to his family

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Love has a way of echoing long after a person is gone. For one local family, music has become the lasting connection to the man they cherished and lost to complications from a brain bleed shortly before the holidays.

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital’s senior music therapist, Maegan Morrow, created a deeply personal rendition of “Amazing Grace” using the heartbeat of patient James House – creating a tribute which captured the steady rhythm his family knew so well.

House arrived at the hospital shortly before the holidays after a fall that caused a severe brain bleed. Despite a history of heart attacks and strokes, House remained active and resilient, relying on his walker to stay on the move. As his condition worsened in the intensive care unit, his care team introduced music therapy to support neurological stimulation and offer comfort.

Morrow’s sessions quickly became a source of peace for House and his loved ones. She played live music at his bedside, celebrated his University of Texas pride with “The Eyes of Texas” and the familiar “Hook ’Em Horns,” and created space for moments of connection during one of the most challenging times.

“After consulting with the doctors, we realized we needed to prepare for hospice,” said House’s daughter, Sharon Smith. “Maegan came back and supported us through that phase as well. She continued the music therapy, probably more for us than for him at that point, but it meant so much.”

An avid listener of Christian music, House’s final moments were accompanied by Morrow’s gentle performance of “Amazing Grace.” Before his passing, she also recorded the sound of his heartbeat to be woven it into the traditional hymn for his family.

“I cried when she sang it in the room because it was so beautiful,” Smith said. “When I received the finished recording, I had to take my time before listening. It was emotional and incredibly touching.”

The rendition features a well-known country artist singing in rhythm with House’s heartbeat, but Morrow also gave the gift of an audio file featuring House’s heartbeat on its own.

“He was larger than life in many ways,” Smith said. “But what mattered most to him was that people knew Jesus loved them. That’s the heart of ‘Amazing Grace.’ That made the song even more meaningful.”

Morrow first began creating heartbeat memorials for families during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many families could not safely say goodbye face-to-face.

“The auditory system is incredibly powerful,” Morrow said. “Rhythm is tied to how we walk, breathe and even heal. In the hospital, an unfamiliar and often overwhelming place, music can prevent confusion, provide comfort and help normalize the environment.”

For House’s family, the heartbeat memorial is a lasting reminder of his presence.

“Though he had a weak heart, that was the one thing that wouldn’t give out,” Smith said. “And now, we can hear that forever.”

Music therapy is an asset of Houston Methodist’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) and aims to provide holistic care through the arts to both patients and families. For more information on CPAM, please visit Houston Methodist online.