A deeply moving moment known as the “ambulance serenade” has touched hearts around the world, highlighting the quiet dedication of caregivers like Yvon Kanters from the Netherlands. This powerful act of compassion unfolded during one woman’s final journey home and has since resonated with millions.
Yvon, a trained social worker, began volunteering at a nursing home during the height of the pandemic in 2020. She offered support to those in need, often stepping in where comfort was most lacking. It didn’t take long for staff members to notice her beautiful singing voice, and they soon invited her to perform for residents living with dementia and Parkinson’s—many of whom, though isolated, still responded deeply to music, particularly opera.
In an interview with Newsweek, Yvon recalled one performance where an elderly man pointed to her and then to his own tears, silently communicating that her music had moved him profoundly. “In that moment, I realized how music could connect us beyond words,” she explained. “It truly is a universal language—we can reach anyone through it.”
Her performance for that man, which was captured on video, went viral. From there, requests began pouring in from other nursing homes and hospitals. She was soon singing for patients undergoing cancer treatment and dialysis, offering a sense of comfort and connection in otherwise difficult settings.
That journey led to a moment that would be seen by more than four million people: an emotional ambulance performance for a terminally ill woman on her final trip home. In a TikTok video posted on February 22, Yvon explained that the woman had personally chosen the song she wished to hear during this final ride—Jennifer Rush’s “The Power of Love,” which had also been famously performed by Celine Dion.
As the woman lay in the ambulance bed beside her husband, Yvon sang the beloved ballad. The atmosphere was filled with emotion. Yvon later shared that the woman appeared hopeful when they first met, quietly sitting with her husband, both of them holding on to each other in those final hours.
“We asked her if there was a song she wanted to hear,” Yvon said. “She and her husband had a favorite, and that was ‘The Power of Love.’” When Yvon began to sing, the woman’s eyes welled with tears. Though she never explained why the song moved her so much, the meaning was evident in her expression.
Later that day, back at the woman’s home, Yvon performed “Dancing Queen” as a light-hearted tribute to the couple’s shared love for ABBA—a joyful and tender moment amid sorrow. The video of the serenade quickly went viral, triggering a wave of emotional responses on social media.
One healthcare worker commented on the importance of music in patient care, saying they regularly ask ambulance patients what songs bring them comfort. Another viewer said they couldn’t stop crying, and a 59-year-old man described himself as openly weeping after watching the performance. Many suggested that the video should come with a warning due to its emotional weight.
Yvon shared with Newsweek that music has always played a central role in her life. She grew up in a musical household—her mother and sisters played instruments, and her father drove them to countless rehearsals and performances. That early exposure to music became the foundation for what she now brings to others: not just melody, but meaning, healing, and presence during life’s most vulnerable moments.