The Hursts have adopted two blind four-year-old girls from China. Both were diagnosed with anophthalmia (an underdeveloped or missing eyeball). Evie weighed about 5kg and could barely sit or stand.
The girls now live in the USA. The Hurst family is also raising three children of their own and an adopted son. At the age of eight, Evie developed seizures and an electroencephalogram (EEG) was required.
Evie suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is very afraid of doctors. It took 30-60 minutes to prepare for the examination. The nurses were worried that they would not be able to do everything in time due to the child’s restless behaviour. Knowing the girl’s love of music, the nurse asked her to sing. Mott’s music therapist Emma Wymer helped the baby. The girl calmed down and concentrated on singing. She asked her mother to record the video. “She deserves to be recognised. She gives off a bright light wherever she goes and she just has a survivor’s spirit,” said the girl’s mum Katie Hurst.
Her parents noticed that little Evie loved music the first time she was bathed. The baby was singing a Chinese song. Singing helps the girl to cope with her fear in an unfamiliar place or when visiting the doctor. “Through singing she has learned to shift her attention from what was happening, which was scaring her, to singing and calming down,” explained the music therapist.
Cathy Hurst hopes that Evie’s story will help people learn about the importance of music therapy.
“Music is an international language,” says Cathy. “It breaks down barriers and supports emotional health, and pills can’t do that.”
“Music therapy is just essential for children like Evie. I hope the positive experience of combining medicine with what she loves most – music – will help her overcome her fear of visits to the doctor. Music is medicine,” said Cathy.
