Betsy’s story

Music therapy has unlocked Betsy’s creativity and given her a welcome distraction from all the medical procedures she is undergoing to treat her brain tumour. 

At the age of two and a half, Betsy’s family received the devastating news that she had a large brain tumour. Her vision had been severely affected and she would need 18 months of chemotherapy. 

But being able to take part in music therapy has enriched Betsy’s life, boosted her self-esteem, helped her concentrate more and provided a welcome distraction from all the medical treatment she has had to undergo. 

“Betsy went from leading a normal toddler life to suddenly having to deal with huge change” says Rochelle, Betsy’s mum. “Tuesdays had become a difficult day, as this was the day we travelled to London for chemotherapy, kidney checks, eye checks, hearings checks.”

But now, Tuesdays became Betsy’s music day where she has fun, plays music and chats to Oli, her therapist. Nordoff and Robbins is such a happy, safe nurturing environment and it’s helping Betsy on her journey.

Rochelle, Betsy’s mum

For Rochelle, music therapy has helped to boost Betsy’s self-esteem and encouraged her inbuilt passion for music. “Betsy has always loved music,” she says. “Among her favourite artists are Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Dolly Parton. I just knew that music therapy would be something she would respond to, so I contacted Nordoff and Robbins and very shortly afterwards Betsy began her weekly sessions. 

Betsy now not only plays and experiments with existing songs but writes and plays her own.

“This makes us so happy because Betsy has such a wonderful imagination and excellent understanding of vocabulary which music therapy is really nurturing,” says Rochelle. “It’s helping her to thrive and bringing out the very best of Betsy – who is a force to be reckoned with! 

“It’s hard to imagine life without vision and I do worry about Betsy being isolated and vulnerable and worry that I won’t always be there to hold her hand as she grows up. Nordoff and Robbins is such a happy, safe nurturing environment and it is helping Betsy on her journey.”