Most of 87-year-old David Jermais’s life has been shaped by an enduring connection to music.
As a child, his mother played the piano and while his grandmother played the accordion.
Those early sounds eventually became the foundation of his lifelong relationship with music.
An Accident That Changed Everything
In 2006, a car accident left David with fractured legs and an uncertain future.
During rehabilitation at St Luke’s Hospital (SLH), it was unclear if he could walk again.
But under the care of the physiotherapists here, he slowly regained mobility.
During this period, David learned to read music and discovered the harmonica.
The instrument soon became both a source of healing and a way to reclaim control over his life, marking the start of David’s journey as a performer.
Music as Service
Recovered and inspired, David began volunteering regularly.
For years, he performed five days a week at a day care centre, eldercare service, and nursing home.
Even as David aged, was diagnosed with dementia, and suffered a heart attack while performing at church two years ago, he continued to share music with others.
This remained his purpose, his joy, and his way of connecting with the world.
Returning to SLH
On 4 November this year, David was admitted to SLH once more, this time for rehabilitation after a hip replacement surgery.
While the procedure was routine, his dementia required a more holistic approach – one that supported not just physical recovery but also memory, identity, and emotional well-being.
Rediscovering the Performer
At SLH, David began music therapy with senior music therapist Camellia Soon.
Through these sessions, he played harmonica pieces from memory, reawakening confidence, alertness, and joy.
“Simple activities such as rehearsing songs, setting up microphones, and preparing music gave David a sense of normalcy, helping him reconnect with the performer within,” says Camellia.
Changing out of patient wear into his own clothes before performing also let him reclaim dignity and independence.
David played for patients and staff at SLH, filling the wards with familiar melodies and reconnecting with the essence of who he is.
Keeping the Melodies Alive
Looking ahead, David’s wife, Josephine, remains committed to supporting his journey.
Now discharged, she plans to continue music therapy, trusting that it will support his dementia care and preserve the melodies that have accompanied him through every chapter of his life.
