Page 189 - The Exceptional Harley Fetterman

THE EXCEPTIONAL HARLEY FETTERMAN

concepts of teaching. Harley's friends were known to have remarked
on social media how Harley impressed them all by pulling out his
guitar and within three minutes accurately “picked out” a song they
had just heard together for the first time, “Landslide.”

Figure 152: Music makes medical
treatment easier.

In September 2015, Harley was photographed relaxing in a comfy
chair with his guitar while attached to his medical pole at Dell
Children's Blood and Cancer Center. Harley was receiving a blood
transfusion due to medical concerns about his recurring low blood
counts. He remained cancer free from his brain tumor but had been
diagnosed with Myelodyplastic Syndrome with a bone marrow
transplant to be scheduled in the near future. During his treatments, he
often played lots of old rock songs, “Green Grass” and “Hotel
California.” He liked Jim Croce songs and blues. “House of the
Rising Sun” was another favorite.
Harley made clever use of his prodigious musical talent to calm
himself and those around him, predictably bringing enjoyable positive
thoughts to everyone within hearing range. His calm, deliberate
strumming could keep anxiety and sadness from lowering moods and

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