Published on: 15/11/18
“For children with a brain injury, music can have a life-changing influence.
“Music can help inspire children whose injury means they have lost the ability to move and communicate, focus, or do anything for themselves.
“It can motivate them to reconnect with the world and relearn the skills they’ve lost.”
Charity ambassador Elaine Paige OBE is supporting The Extraordinary Music Box Appeal by The Children’s Trust, which launched today on European Music Therapy Day.
The campaign highlights the importance of music to children having rehabilitation after a serious accident or illness.
Also highlighting the importance of music therapy is Suzi Quatro, who has sold over 50 million albums worldwide.
She said: “Music plays such a crucial role in everyday lives and it’s fantastic to hear how it can motivate and inspire children with brain injury.”
Quatro explained how she was moved by a story of recovery by Jadae, who was seven years old when she was involved in a tragic car accident, leaving her with a severe brain injury.
Unable to move or communicate, Jadae stayed at The Children’s Trust for intensive rehabilitation to help her reconnect and relearn the skills she had lost.
The charity explained:
- how music was used to motivate Jadae;
- how favourite songs were used to trigger memories;
- how Jadae was encouraged to hum, shape sounds, and use her voice again; and
- how music helped Jadae move her hands and legs to a beat.
Music helped Jadae relax, have a little fun and smile again. Here is her story:
Jadae’s story
Jadae was seven years old when she was involved in a serious road accident that left her unable to move or communicate.
Three months after the accident, Jadae moved to The Children’s Trust for specialist rehabilitation to relearn the skills she had lost. Music, fun and play were Jadae’s most powerful motivators and staff ensured this was an integral part of her therapy.
Jadae’s mum Caroline explained: “Singing helped Jadae with her breathing, which then helps with her talking. And it lifted her spirits. She was making great progress and started saying words. I was sat at the table with her and I said, ‘can you say Caroline?’ and she did! Oh my God, she did! I was literally crying with happiness hearing her.”
Music helped Jadae focus on what she could do, rather than what she couldn’t. It was a fantastic motivator. When she returned home Jadae was able to sing, hold herself up and make progress towards walking independently once again.
You can read more about Jadae here.
