There’s something deeply comforting about music. It doesn’t just fill the air with sound; it speaks to a part of us that words alone often can’t reach. A song can make us feel understood, less alone, even braver, especially in times of worry or stress.
For Lindon Beckford, a patient transporter at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, music is that lifeline—not just for him, but for the patients he cares for every day.
Beckford has been singing since he was young, and he has carried that passion into his work at the hospital. He doesn’t sing for attention or praise. For him, music is a way of finding comfort, even in the most challenging times. “I was always singing at work.
I was always singing as a child growing up, so it was just a natural thing,” he said. “It was more for a comforting thing. I did that just to comfort myself, but then all of a sudden I realized people were listening.”
As he noticed the effect his singing had on others, he decided to make it a daily part of his job. For more than 30 years, he has worked at the hospital, and over time, he’s developed a unique way of tuning in to his patients’ needs through music.
“Depending on the conversation that I hear… if the patient’s in pain, I think, ‘What song can I sing to relieve them?’” he explained. His goal? To make each journey as calm and comforting as possible.
Patients often express their gratitude. “At the end, when I get them to their procedure or back to their room, they’ll say, ‘You know, you made this trip from here to there so much easier because of your singing,’” Beckford shared. For many, his voice is more than just a song; it’s a moment of peace in a time of worry.
One memorable moment for him came during a transport to the catheter lab. As he sang, the patient he was with began harmonizing with him. “I remember the first time a patient joined in,” he said, smiling at the memory. “She started harmonizing with me, and I was like, ‘Oh wow!’ It was so amazing. That’s happened a few times since then.”
To the patients he transports, Beckford’s singing isn’t just a distraction from their worries—it’s a beacon of hope and warmth. At a time when many feel vulnerable, his voice offers reassurance, a reminder that someone cares. “Sometimes they’re nervous or confused, and my voice, it’s like a friend there with them,” he said, summing up his mission.
Witness Beckford’s gift in action by watching the video below, and feel the power of music as he brings calm to those around him.
Thank you, Lindon Beckford, for spreading light and comfort every day! Share your comments and thoughts below!
