A Missouri woman practices playing the organ as much as she can and one of her yearly highlights is playing on Christmas Eve at her church in the southeast region of the state, according to a published report.
But Kelly Irvin's intention to play the organ last month was in peril due to a traumatic brain injury she suffered during a late March 2012 car crash, The Southeast Missourian reports early last month. A large part of her recovery is due to work she completed with someone who holds an occupational therapy job.
"I was determined to play at the midnight Mass," she told the news source. "I remembered the organ pretty well, and I played at my uncle Stan's funeral and at my cousin's wedding when I got back home. I'll be sharing the organ with someone on Christmas Eve, but I'll be ready to play my songs."
The chance to play before parishioners also represents an opportunity to demonstrate how much she has improved while recuperating.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists help patients recover and improve skills that are needed for daily life.