This week we’re inspired by 18-year-old Eva, who is nearing her last appointment at the RCH.

Eva was first admitted in 2015 with an eating disorder and soon discovered music therapy.

Music therapist Jo Rimmer said Eva used music to connect with other patients and staff.

“When she played songs she’d written, I felt it helped me get to know her better, and the nurses and other patients on the ward really connected with Eva through her music. She would play to them, teach them…”

We caught up with Eva to hear how music has helped her during her time at the RCH.

Can you tell us why you’re a patient at the RCH?

“In December 2015 I was diagnosed with anorexia. I got very sick very quickly, dropped out of school, and was in hospital twice a week. Since then I’ve improved significantly – I graduated year 12 last year!”

Why did you turn to music therapy?

“I was at rock bottom and needed something to get me out of that head space. My music therapist Jo came into my room one day when I was crying and not handling things. Music therapy provided me with an escape and a space to be with the music, and that was it. I didn’t have to think about my condition or anything else. It was an outlet and something to relinquish some of my anxiety.”

Music therapy must have been quite different to your other treatment?

“When a music therapist comes into your room it’s just a person with a guitar, it doesn’t matter what your diagnoses is or how unwell you are, or who you are, you are just sharing the moment with the music. It’s a medium to express emotion, a time, a place – it’s such an important tool. You can express things through music which you can’t express in another form.”

What does the RCH music therapy program mean to you?

“When I was sick I didn’t do music, all I did was think about my illness. Reintroducing music back into my life not only relieved my anxiety and gave me something to look forward to, but it gave me a little bit of Eva back.”

What did it mean for your recovery? 

“It meant I not only had an expressive outlet I could use to distract myself with, I also could share that expression with other people and vice versa. I’ve connected with lots of amazing people through music since my time at the RCH, who have helped me become the person I am today!”

How is your health now?

“My mental and physical health have both vastly improved. I can genuinely say that I am a very happy, hopeful and passionate person now! The things that used to rule me now have much less meaning in my life, and although recovering from an eating disorder, or any illness, can take a prolonged amount of time, I feel secure with my current self and am able to handle things much better. I hope that my story speaks to those in a similar situation to the one I was in and gives them hope that recovery can too become their reality, and that it is not something to fear or avoid.”

What’s your favourite instrument?

“The piano, because it’s a classic.”

Who do you look to for music inspiration?

“There’s not one genre or person or artist that inspires me, but there’s a certain quality that comes with really iconic musicians like Frank Sinatra, they can make everyone stop and just enjoy the music. I’ll give a shout out to Tash Sultana too!”

How do you learn new music?

“I’m largely self-taught – I think you should let your ears teach you.”

Where to next for you? Would you ever consider becoming a music therapist?

“I’m at university this year and interested in music therapy, but first I want to try and work in foreign aid. Being a music therapist would make me happy, but I don’t want music to define me, I want to use it as a tool to feel things.”

If you’re a teenage patient at the RCH and would like to share your story, please contact media.team@rch.org.au.