Following surgery, Holmes’ arm was relegated to a sling. He was incapable of moving his shoulder, elbow, hand or fingers. He was told he might never regain full use of his arm, let alone play the piano.

Treatment was frequent, and it was tough. Each week, Holmes had three, one-hour appointments filled with often-painful exercises to restore use to his dislocated shoulder and to heal nerve damage in his hand.

Holmes did regain movement. And then he said he began to long for the piano and the Fairview. “The therapists at Duke were very enthusiastic about my progress but also very clear: many people who sustain injuries like mine, live out their lives with hands and arms that are useless,” he said.

Although he persisted with treatment, there were no guarantees he would be able to resume his career.

“As late as December 2007, I was determined yet unsure if I’d be able to return to the piano,” he said.

In April 2008, Holmes, 74, returned to the Fairview where he performs a vast repertoire of jazz and popular standards. And he’s ventured into new territory, arranging a Chopin ballade and a Brahms intermezzo for left-hand only play. He’s also mastered a computer-based music notation system that allows him to more easily arrange music and compose.

Physical therapists at Duke are nothing less than amazed.

 “Witnessing Mr. Holmes’ return to the piano is a powerful example of hard work, perseverance and determination,” said Greg Ruskan, physical therapist at the Patterson Place clinic. Ruskin added that such a recovery is particularly rare at Holmes’ age. “We take great pride in helping our patients regain their quality of life following traumatic life-changing events.”

The road to recovery hasn’t been easy and it isn’t over. Every day, Holmes completes an hour of conditioning exercises with his right hand. “But,” he said, “I’m back in the saddle, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Libbie Hough is a writer for Op5 Creative in Atlanta.