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'It touches people': Singing chaplain helps hospital patients

'It touches people': Singing chaplain helps hospital patients
For Reverend Chris KPA going to work means sharing two things. He loves his faith and his music. I'm just singing for the past decade at Ohio State University. Wexner Medical Center KPA has clocked in for work with *** guitar in hand. It touches people in *** way that maybe other ways of communicating with folks don't. He projects lyrics and allows patients on various hospital floors to pick what they'd like to hear from *** list of more than 180 songs. I have seen folks who were, you know, just tired and just ready to kind of give up, get *** little extra kick in their step from singing ***, *** good old Beatles song from hymns to punk rock. Kampa says he sings all genres and allows patients to add songs to his list. With some exceptions. Sometimes I get some uh some suggestions that the chaplain probably ought not to sing. He says the songs of encouragement are the most requested or whether it's, you know, ***, *** hymn like Amazing Grace for whether it's hey dude, don't make it bad, you know, make it better. His work isn't just about music. He says it's about acknowledging what these patients are going through. It's hard to help life be *** little bit better. Even if it's only for 45 minutes, it's still *** little better at that moment for health minute. I'm Amy Gaither.
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'It touches people': Singing chaplain helps hospital patients
Being a patient in a hospital isn't easy. Some are hurting physically and others can struggle with their mental health. But a pastor who works at an Ohio hospital says he's bringing comfort and solace to patients and staff — with his voice.Rev. Chris Ciampa says going to work means sharing two things he loves: his faith and his music. "I'm just singing," said Ciampa, who's served as chaplain at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for the past decade. "It touches people in a way that maybe other ways of communicating with folks don't." Ciampa allows patients on various hospital floors to pick what they'd like to hear from a list of more than 180 songs — from hymns to punk rock."I have seen folks who were just tired and just ready to kind of give up, get a little extra kick in their step from singing a good ol' Beatles song," he said. Although Ciampa says he gets some suggestions a chaplain probably shouldn't sing, he says the most requested tunes he plays are songs of encouragement. "Whether it's a hymn like 'Amazing Grace' or whether it's 'Hey Jude,' don't make it bad. Make it better," he said. Aside from the music, Ciampa says his job is about acknowledging that what these patients are going through is hard and "to help life be a little bit better even if it's only for 45 minutes.""It's still a little better at that moment," he said.

Being a patient in a hospital isn't easy. Some are hurting physically and others can struggle with their mental health.

But a pastor who works at an Ohio hospital says he's bringing comfort and solace to patients and staff — with his voice.

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Rev. Chris Ciampa says going to work means sharing two things he loves: his faith and his music.

"I'm just singing," said Ciampa, who's served as chaplain at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for the past decade. "It touches people in a way that maybe other ways of communicating with folks don't."

Ciampa allows patients on various hospital floors to pick what they'd like to hear from a list of more than 180 songs — from hymns to punk rock.

"I have seen folks who were just tired and just ready to kind of give up, get a little extra kick in their step from singing a good ol' Beatles song," he said.

Although Ciampa says he gets some suggestions a chaplain probably shouldn't sing, he says the most requested tunes he plays are songs of encouragement.

"Whether it's a hymn like 'Amazing Grace' or whether it's 'Hey Jude,' don't make it bad. Make it better," he said.

Aside from the music, Ciampa says his job is about acknowledging that what these patients are going through is hard and "to help life be a little bit better even if it's only for 45 minutes."

"It's still a little better at that moment," he said.