Our Music Therapy Services Help
Meet some of our CMF Kids that have healed through music therapy and improved their quality of life.
Miles
Miles was diagnosed with cancer in June 2013, which started his journey of procedures and treatments in his hometown of Seattle. Thankfully his family received the best gift of all during the 2014 holidays. Miles is 100% clear and healthy!
Miles is a musical kid, and like his dad, started playing the drums very early on. His aunt arranged for him to receive a guitar through CMF and shared the following note:
Miles really loves the guitar…I speak for all of us when I say, THANK YOU. He was excited to get it and continues to enjoy the new experience of playing the guitar. He uses music as an outlet to express himself and to use up some of his incredible energy. There were times while he was going through treatment when having music as an outlet really helped to keep his mindset on getting through the rough patches, either at Seattle Children’s Hospital or at home when he was kept out of his social life to heal…Miracles happen and it definitely takes a village!
David
Our family loves this program. It was very beneficial for our son to have someone come in and play music for him when he was in the PICU and then as his health improved to interact and learn a new instrument is a great opportunity. As he is awaiting a transplant, it gives him something fun and productive to do. Also, this program meets the needs of teenagers. Many of the opportunities offered in the hospital are for younger children – especially nice to have something that appeals to teens. Thank you!
Mikey
Our son Mikey has cerebral palsy and suffers from uncontrolled seizures. He has significant skeletal and muscle deformation (like scoliosis) that has left Mikey in pain, unable to walk or speak. We first started visiting Dr. Raffi to assist in the management of his pain. It is difficult to gauge his discomfort because he is non-verbal. Dr. Raffi suggested Music Therapy. We were at first apprehensive, though knew that Mikey has always enjoyed music as well as loud action film soundtracks. Alex, Mikey’s music therapist, entered the room and Mikey was indifferent to her, turning his eyes and not looking at her. Alex immediately started playing an acoustic guitar and started singing. Everyone in the room was captivated and Mikey immediately focused in on Alex. Over the next several sessions Alex befriended Mikey, utilizing several different instruments (piano, chimes, and bongos). Music Therapy has brought a higher quality of life to Mikey. He is now actively participating in the sessions, strums the guitar, mimics the notes or sounds and is fully engaged with Alex. We have noticed a calmer Mikey after the sessions and an increase in Mikey’s verbal communication. He has begun to be more social with other folks and seems happy. Music therapy has brought greater happiness to Mikey, less pain and another form of communication–music.
Ben
We had an amazing experience with Stacie, our music therapist. Ben has really fallen in love with music and playing instruments since we began with music therapy. By the end of the session, he was singing all of those songs! Thank you very much for providing this service to my son. He grew a great deal as a result.” -Nadine, mother
George
George is a 16-year-old male, who was admitted to the PICU due to a car running over him causing damaged to his spinal cord, making him paraplegic. George expressed interest in Music Therapy with Stacie. Stacie informed me that George requested another song after the session was over, which she happily performed. After speaking with George the next day, he expressed to me how much he enjoyed the Music Therapy and how it “took me (him) to a better place. I felt calm after listening to the music.” Thank you CMF for providing the means to lift the spirits of patients in the Peds unit at Harbor UCLA.” – Lizeth Martinez, CCLS Child Life Specialist