Hope and harmony took centre stage at the South Eastern Trust’s Thompson House Hospital as patients and staff were treated to a special performance from The Enthusiasts Choir to highlight Brain Injury Awareness Week.
Formed in 2019, in partnership with Brain Injury Matters and the South Belfast based Ormeau Community Choir, The Enthusiasts is a choir for people with an acquired brain injury and has grown both in size and impact.
Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly, along with invited guests, were also treated to a rousing performance that combined song, poetry and short stories celebrating the endurance of the human spirit. The deputy First Minster praised the choir for creating such an inspiring atmosphere and shining the spotlight and bringing awareness to Brain Injury Awareness Week.
“It has been such an uplifting morning listening to the choir, they were absolutely amazing. By coming to Thompson House Hospital, it is an opportunity for me to say thank you to everyone for the incredible work that they do in helping support patients, often at the most difficult time of their life.
“I know that some of The Enthusiasts’ members have been patients here at Thompson House so for the staff, it must be so inspiring to see and hear how far they have come, especially coming back to perform and raise awareness of Brain Injury Awareness and the work of Brain Injury Matters. It is incredible.”
Thompson House Hospital Interim Manager Victoria Quinn added, “There has been such a great atmosphere at the hospital with this very special visit. We are delighted to work with Brain Injury Matters and the Cedar Foundation Disability Charity to bring this event together. Our patients came down to enjoy the morning which was lovely. The songs and readings performed by The Enthusiasts were so hopeful and it was an absolute privilege to host them here at Thompson House Hospital.”
Brain Injury Matters Chief Executive Officer Gerard Anderson described the morning as, “emotional” for those in attendance.
“I think a lot of people here were fighting back the tears. There are members of this choir who were told that they may not be able to talk, may not be able to sing, for some, this is the first time they have been back in Thompson House Hospital since they were patients. It is such an emotional morning and seeing patients coming down from the Wards and hearing that message of hope, of resilience, it couldn’t be on a better day, a better week or a better venue.”
The Enthusiasts Choir Leader Una McCann shared her pride in the members standout performance. “I started working with Brain Injury Matters during lockdown in 2020 and we would have met over Zoom as this was during Covid. We met for the first time in 2021, when the choir first came together and we have volunteers from the Ormeau Community Choir who support us as well. It has been such a lovely journey.
“This has been such a beautiful performance at Thompson House Hospital, the acoustics have worked so well for us. It has been such a joyful, special experience for us.”