Phoebe
Phoebe is a three year old girl with the rare life-threatening haematological disorder HLH. She had two bone marrow transplants and the music therapist worked with her on both of her long-term stays in hospital.
There are many painful and challenging effects of Phoebe’s treatment including isolation in a hospital room following her bone marrow transplant. Her family have worked hard to create a normal and positive environment within the confines of this isolation room. Music therapy has played a vital part in this.
Through music, Phoebe can use the instruments to channel her distress and distract her from pain and frustration. The music therapist listens to what she plays and echoes or responds, validating her choices and celebrating her creativity. Sometimes her parents join in to create a rousing chorus or a fun-filled activity, or they are able to take a few minutes by themselves. When they see their daughter playing and interacting with someone else in a ‘normal’ way, they are reassured that though she may look different, through hair loss or steroids, she is still Phoebe.
Music therapy can offer an opportunity for a child to experience their healthy self but it can also be a means of expressing difficult feelings. It has contributed towards creating a positive and creative environment within Phoebe’s hospital room, helping to reduce her stress levels, which her parents believe have allowed her life-saving treatment to be more effective.
Phoebe’s parents said:
“We have found the music therapy sessions a wonderful and invaluable part of our experience. Each week we enjoyed the music therapist’s visit which brought a different focus and energy into the isolation cubicle and we thoroughly enjoyed the break from the routine of medicines and treatment. The music therapist very much empowers Phoebe during the session and we particularly enjoy the fact that Phoebe leads us, building her confidence.”
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