30 Days of PH: Music Therapy

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by Jen Cueva |

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Day 9 of 30 Days of PH⁣⠀ ⁣Topic: Music therapy⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ This is Tess’s story @phightertess⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Music has always been a big part of my life, unfortunately, so has a chronic illness. I was always a poorly child. I grew up struggling with breathing problems, but music was always there. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I took up piano lessons at the age of 4 and I haven’t looked back. When I was younger, I was always playing on my piano as I was too sick to go out and play with my friends. As I was growing up, I decided to learn the cello and trumpet as well. Sadly I cannot play the trumpet anymore due to my PH, but continue to play the cello in orchestras, which has taken me around the world.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I love playing my piano at any time, good or bad because it always transports me to another world. It will always be my therapy. I was diagnosed with PH in February 2008 and when I was told that I only had a few months to live, it felt like my world came crashing down. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣However, I was determined that this wasn’t going to stop me from pursuing my dreams of pursuing my degree in music. After juggling with my health and my studies, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music in 2012. I became a school music teacher, but I quit teaching to return to University for a Masters Degree in Music Therapy. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣Music therapy is a psychological therapy that aims to facilitate positive changes in emotional wellbeing and communication through the engagement of live musical interaction. Music helps me so much through my illness, I wanted to use my passion for music to help others who are unwell. I now have my own business as a music teacher and a music therapist. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I love being my own boss. It means I can choose my own hours and it works with my hospital appointments too. If I am unwell, I can cancel work last minute and rearrange at my own convenience. As a music therapist, I work with children with severe learning disabilities. Although the work can be difficult emotionally, it is also very rewarding. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣As well as my wonderful parents, husband and PH team, I am also very grateful and thankful to have music as a huge part of my life and I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of them!

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About the Author

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Jen Cueva Jen Cueva lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and mini schnauzer, Zoé. Jen worked in nursing before the script changed upon her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), group 1, in 2005. Advocacy has been essential to her life. Her passion is to instill hope and remind others in the PH community that they are not alone. To do this, she serves as a forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News and in her weekly column she delves into the roller coaster of emotions that accompany PH. It is powerful and meaningful to her to have this opportunity to play a role in helping others become more informed and educated so they are more empowered in their journey. Together, we PHight stronger!

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30DaysofPH, awareness, musictherapy

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