Phil Fadely, 82, is a fiddle player. He volunteers most weekdays at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Mont., playing his fiddle in the waiting rooms to bring the comfort of music to patients and their families.

Fadely holds the hand of his partner Verna. Although they are not married, they've been companions for 20 years, and his children call her "Mom."

Fadely came to Montana with his late wife when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had 15 years in Montana before she died. "I don't think I could've gotten through it if I didn't have that fiddle."

Fadely mostly plays in the waiting areas, although occasionally he will play for patients in their room.

He once played for an eight-year-old girl who was dying. "It was a very emotional experience," he says. "She passed away as I was playing."

Fadely plays in one of Community Medical Center's waiting areas. He writes down songs on index cards to help him remember what to play.

Fadely and Community Medical Center Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer Martin walk to another wing of the hospital. She believes his music is very helpful to people in pain and grief.

Although Fadely has some of the physical problems, along with memory loss that comes with his age, he still knows a large catalog of songs by heart.

Fadely plays in another waiting room. The man waiting claps after he is done.

A family helps their grandmother walk out of a physical therapy appointment as Fadely plays one of his songs. The receptionists know him all over the hospital.

He puts a lot of effort and concentration into his playing. Nowadays, he generally gets very tired after a few hours of playing.

A patient's dog appreciates the music.

Fadely no longer drives. A Mountain Line shuttle picks him up in the morning to take him to the hospital, and he takes the public bus home.