The concept of the charity concert “Free (to) Live” was created by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jānis Stafeckis. The long-time creative partners and friends of the LNSO - “Latvian Radio big band'', singers Lindai Leen and Daumants Kalniņš, violinist Kristīne Balanas and the ensemble “Xylem Trio'', whose members are Oskars and Raimonds Petrauski, as well as Rihards Zaļupe, took part in the concert. The concert featured songs by Raimonds Pauls, original music by Linda Leen and Kārļis Vanagas, and music by Kamil Sensāns, Gia Kančeli and others. It was broadcast live by channel TV3.
“Music heals. It heals the soul, evokes memories and tears in the eyes of patients. It gives confidence that a persons life has value until the last breath”; admitted the board member of “Hospiss LV”. Until now, LNSO musicians have entertained patients in palliative care departments of hospitals with performances, joining the foundation volunteers as part of the ''The Festive table”; project, so that those who can no longer attend the concerts themselves can hear the healing music. This time, with the help of music, we drew attention to the problems of palliative care in Latvia, and encouraged people to help in providing care for terminally ill people. During the concert, doctor Andra Levite reminded that a person in his prime can take care of himself and lead a respectful life, but entering and leaving life respectfully is a different case.
In both cases, a person is weak and vulnerable – he has to rely on his fellow human beings. A person at the end of life has different priorities, other requirements and expectations than a person with an acute illness. It is impossible to fulfill these requirements of a dying person in a hospital ward. “Hospice can provide what hospitals cannot, and in my opinion should not, provide. We will all be on this path. Therefore, it is good to know that there will be a place where we can respectfully leave this life” said Andra Levite. Also, the president of the Latvian Association of Doctors, doctor Ilze Aizsilniece, added to what Mrs. Levite said, based on her experience working abroad: “when the family found out that their loved one had only days or even hours left, they took him back home, because they believed that ''if a person goes home, he goes to heaven”. It is a pity that we do not understand this. And in the last moments, when a patient`s life becomes difficult, he cannot move and breathe, we try to take him to the hospital. You don't have to do that. But such understanding requires knowledge. For all of us, including doctors.
Ilze Aizsilniece, the President of the Latvian Medical Association, added to Ms Levite's words, drawing on her own experience working abroad: 'When a family learned that their loved one had only days or hours left, they took him or her back home, because they believed that if a person "goes" home, he or she "goes" to heaven. It is a pity that we do not understand this, and at that last moment, when the sick person is struggling, unable to move or breathe, we try to take him to hospital. That is not the way to do it. But such understanding requires knowledge. For all of us, including the medical profession."
The head of the Palliative Care Department of Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, doctor Vilnis Sosārs, known as the father of the palliative industry, who was awarded the Order of the Three Stars for his achievements last year, also participated in the charity concert. When he told what terminally ill patients in the hospital wanted, he quoted the most often heard phrase: “I am not afraid of death, but of suffering.'' But the doctor of theChildrens Clinical University Hospital, Pēteris Kļava, who, working as a reanimatologist for more than 30 years and encountering death on a daily basis, has studied the phenomenon of death all his life, with the recognition that "there is no death, we leave the body because we are an eternal consciousness, tried reduce the fear of death. The audience of the concert was also touched by the emotional story of channels TV3 moderator Kristine Anže experience - what it`s like to take care and be by the side of your loved one when medicine can no longer help, because Kristines beloved twin sister died in their country house, in the presence of the family.
The audience donated 24,667.2 thousand euros for the end of life of terminally ill people during the concert, while the organizer of the concert “Moller Auto'', in whose new “Audi'' store this touching event took place, additionally donated 10 thousand euros, which will be used to provide respectful hospice care to those, who for various reasons cannot receive the new state-paid service, as well as other charity projects aimed at the needs of dying patients. Izīda Gerkena, executive director of the ''Moller Auto'' group in the Baltics, admitted: ''The greatest asset of every country, every company, including “Moller Auto”, is a person. The urpose of this concert was to remind people of the feeling of freedom that we can give to everyone throughout life, but especially when it's time to leave - freely and respectfully. It is our responsibility to make sure that it actually happens. I really hope that the music has made it possible to hear the call to donate to ''Hospiss LV'', which does a wonderful job helping terminally ill people to spend their time with honor! I really hope that not only civilians will hear it, but also companies.''
“The beautiful concert and the thrill that music gives, has charged us for further work. Peoples support is important, both financially and morally, because it proves that the charity projects of Hospiss LV are necessary for society, and that the Latvian citizens and companys are kind and thoughtful. Thank you to every donor, thank you to the LNSO Foundation, the musicians, “Moller Auto”; and channel TV3 for the organization and financial support of this concert,'' says Ilze Zosule, co-founder of “Hospiss LV''.
