Music Is My Life

Just two years ago at the age of just 43 Claire was told she might only have six months to live, and although she has had two clear scans following treatment for stage four bowel cancer, she knows the illness could return one day.

She said: “Music is my whole life and it’s always been my way of dealing with things. Some people do get emotional when I play at the hospice. Music can trigger memories. We had a non-verbal patient, who could only communicate through blinking, who really benefitted. Everybody gets something different from it.”

Claire volunteers her talents at the hospice in Northfleet once a month as part of the charity’s Music Matters sessions. She plays anything from Abba to Chopin and loves to see patients and their families swing, clap and sing along. Some just close their eyes and listen and she knows they are getting some respite from physical and emotional stress, reliving precious memories and just enjoying the sound of music in their ears.

She said: “It’s good to get back to playing music again, and with empathy for what people are going through. It’s nice that I can do that – I know how much music helped me when I was going through it. I’ve always been a massive devotee of wellbeing.”

Claire has been coming to ellenor since the Spring, after a friend who is a member of staff at the hospice introduced her to the wellbeing team.

One of her adult students, Mary Weller, is a cancer patient at ellenor and together they have shared their experiences of living with a life limiting illness as well as their joy of music.

Claire said: “When I started teaching Mary I was going through chemotherapy and later she ended up having her own diagnosis. She stopped lessons for a while but when she started to feel stronger, she started playing again. It has been quite nice for both of us, and the music has been massively helpful. We have a friendship now and it’s good to talk to someone who understands, to someone else other than friends or family, someone who has also been through it.”

Claire plays for patients on The Green, ellenor’s central reception and socialising area. Day patients who are there for treatments and wellbeing classes sit and listen to her play, and they are joined by friends and family as well as patients from the ward.

She said: “It’s accessible to everyone. I play a mixture of things; pop and rock, show tunes, classical and music I have composed myself. Towards the end of the session, I ask patients what they would like to hear in the next session – it’s very varied. It’s nice to be playing the sort of music that people want to hear and that means something to them.”

Claire lives in Southfleet with her husband Chris and their two children, Blake, 19, and Nathan, 16.

She said: “Chris loves music and has always been my biggest supporter. We have been together since we were 18 and he is my absolute rock. I could not have been through what I have been through without him.”

Living close by, Claire knew about ellenor, but was unaware of all the services offered by the charity and what an emphasis it places on wellbeing and treating patients and their families holistically.

She said: “It’s not what you might expect and the sort of services they offer are very good. I was quite nervous the first time I came but ellenor is a happy place.”

Claire was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2023. She had emergency surgery following a perforated bowel, when a stoma bag was fitted, followed by six months of intensive chemotherapy. She has had much of her bowel removed as well as her ovaries, fallopian tubes and appendix.

She said: “I had my first clear scan just before Christmas. Considering I was given six months to a year to live, it’s a bit of a miracle. I had another clear scan in April and will be monitored every five to six months.

“Having cancer does change your outlook on life. You are up and down, and you get massive anxiety when you are due to have a scan. But it has also made me grateful for the little things and determined to make the most of every moment. You don’t go through something like this and come out the other side unchanged.”

Claire, who has a degree in music, has always been interested in its therapeutic benefits.

In the past she has worked with primary school children, using music to help them deal with trauma and express themselves. Having played since she was nine years old, music has always been a big part of her life, and she is keen for others to benefit, including her own sons.

She said: “My diagnosis was very hard on them both, and they have been so supportive.”

Claire and her family have been so inspired by the holistic, person-centred support at ellenor that they’ve chosen to give back in every way they can - from Claire sharing her music with ellenor’s adult and day patients to opening their home for the charity’s popular Glorious Gardens fundraiser this summer, where they invited friends, family, and neighbours to enjoy their historic garden and Claire’s piano playing.

She said: “We had over 80 people, and I played the piano for them too. It was a lot of work getting the garden ready, but it was a lovely day. We live in a house that dates to 1470, so I think a lot of people were intrigued to come and have a look.

“I wanted to give something back, and I’m happy to be helping ellenor.”