During his childhood in Colombia, Edgar’s home echoed with traditional songs that his parents loved to play. And amidst the music, his parents modeled generosity and joyfulness to Edgar and his three younger siblings. He learned discipline and received a solid education through Catholic school; afterward, he was motivated to study business administration in Bogota.
He started a career in sales, but limited economic opportunities spurred him to immigrate to the U.S. for the chance to pursue what he believed would be a better life. Settling in Colorado, Edgar continued his career and raised two children, despite experiencing racial discrimination from supervisors and coworkers throughout the years.
“Immigration in general is difficult. You leave your family, your customs, friends, food, and traditions,” Edgar, now 66, said. “But I am a resilient person. It has made me tougher.”
Far from the home he’d always known, music became Edgar’s refuge and source of strength. “I love to sing. When you sing, all the negatives go away. I like to sing balladas—romantic songs. Especially when I’m doing the dishes!”
Communicating with music
When Edgar’s mother back in Colombia began to suffer from dementia and words failed her, music became a shared language between mother and son. Over the phone, the songs of Edgar’s childhood became a way for them to communicate as she struggled to remember.
“The American dream depends on how you see it. There is good and bad,” Edgar reflected. “I lost the opportunity to be with my parents. When I was finally able to visit my mom, she was in a wheelchair and near death, and that was a rough moment for me. I sacrificed moments with them to raise my own family.”
After dementia claimed his mother’s life in 2012, Edgar turned his grief into a mission to support others. He began volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado, where he worked with the Latino community to better inform them about dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as how to handle the stigma that exists about the illness.
“It’s hard to find Spanish-speaking medical professionals and insurance,” Edgar explained. “Seeing [my mother] in this situation and the lack of information of how to care for her made me realize how this affects so many Latinos and immigrants.”
Shifting to support others
Just like when his mother was alive, Edgar saw how music was deeply intertwined with memory among the Alzheimer’s patients that he served. The longer he volunteered, the more he wanted to use music to bring comfort to those who felt forgotten. He dreamed of entertaining individuals in nursing homes with dementia but had no musical training—only a guitar that someone had given him.
“This was my wish,” Edgar said, “but it’s not just for me. Music is a gift, and I want to pass that gift on.”
Wish of a Lifetime made Edgar’s dream of serving others through music come true by setting him up with beginner guitar lessons at Swallow Hill Music. For more than three months, an instructor met him with patience and encouragement, printing songs for him in Spanish and English, as he learned chords and became acquainted with a new instrument.
“The experience was good for my spirit and my brain,” Edgar shared. “Learning something new helps keep dementia at bay. It’s a goal for daily living in our 60s and 70s.”
Now, Edgar continues to practice independently with the Alzheimer’s community in mind, building on the foundation of his lessons, and gaining a new skill in his retirement years.
“Having this opportunity and having a group of people—angels—to support older adults is a gift,” Edgar said. “We don’t have the money to do these projects or reach our goals … Older adults are forgotten in society and by our families, so the people who remember us and fulfill our wishes are a treasure!”
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