Healing one note at a time
Life turned upside down
Lucy was a typical 13-year-old – laughing with friends, finding her place in high school and pouring her heart into music. Until one early morning, just two months before her 14th birthday, when a sudden brain bleed changed everything, and Lucy was put into a coma.
Lucy spent 17 days on life support in Queensland Children’s Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, undergoing multiple treatments and tests daily, including drains on both sides of her brain. During her stay in the unit, Lucy also became ill with pneumonia, rhinovirus, influenza B, a blood infection and a fungal infection.
With no prior symptoms, Lucy’s parents, Anthony and Leanne, suddenly found themselves in a terrifying new reality filled with medical professionals, confronting treatments and uncertainty. When she finally awoke, despite their relief, Lucy’s family knew her journey wasn’t over yet – and that the road to recovery still stretched on ahead.
But through it all, Lucy’s love of music acted as a powerful force in her recovery once the hospital’s music therapy program became part of her treatment.
Changing her tune
During her stay in hospital, Lucy’s music therapy continually changed to suit her needs and stimulation requirements.
In the beginning, soothing sounds from the guitar were used to support Lucy during her coma and aid in waking her up. From the very first session, her parents noticed an undeniable effect.
“Lucy’s pulse rate and blood pressure were high, and to watch them just instantly drop as soon as the guitar started was just magical.”
– Anthony, Lucy’s dad
Once she was awake, Lucy’s own musical interests were incorporated into both her therapy and treatment, the focus shifting to support her motor function as she moved into the neurology ward and began rehabilitation. As Lucy relearned how to walk, talk and move, music therapy acted as a guiding hand.
Her parents brought in her violin and guitar to encourage her progress – a decision that led to an incredible moment in her recovery. Though Lucy had only played guitar for three months before her coma, she amazed everyone by playing the James Bond theme song from memory.
“Her brain cognition was not, realistically, there fully – and playing the guitar unlocked those memories, that muscle recall.”
A new beginning
Lucy has now returned to school and is currently supported by ongoing treatments and community therapies. Amidst this journey, her passion for music shines — she’s already busy rehearsing for her school’s production of Beauty and the Beast.
Research shows that music helps build, or rebuild, important neurological pathways that help sick kids regain control of their language, speech, movement and coordination.
For over 30 years, Children’s Hospital Foundation has funded music therapy programs at Queensland Children’s Hospital to help kids with all illnesses, injuries and conditions on their road to recovery – just like Lucy.
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The difference that shapes their world
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