Today John-Paul is a bright and outgoing 10-year-old boy. He loves all sports, reading, music and building Lego. But when he was nine years old his world changed forever when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. According to his mum Elaine, John-Paul was extremely musical, playing the guitar and drums, he also enjoyed a variety of sports including soccer, touch football, basketball and go-karting. But brain cancer has taken away the ability for John-Paul to do many of the activities that once came so easily to him.
John-Paul before brain surgery
John-Paul is a battler though, determined not to let brain cancer hold him back, despite the many physical and mental side effects that he has since experienced. When John-Paul underwent surgery, it wasn't known until after the tumour was removed that it was a grade 2/3 astrocytoma brain tumour.
Unfortunately, there are still some tumours remaining.
John-Paul after his brain surgery
Since his operation, John-Paul has been taking part in music therapy thanks to a Music Matters Grant from the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation. Read more about music therapy & Music Matters Grants here Like many other children who have brain surgery, John-Paul has experienced a range of serious side effects. One such side effect is the struggle he has regulating his emotions. On these challenging days, drums are used in his music therapy sessions to help alleviate any frustration. Elaine says his music therapist Fiona is great at working out what he should focus on during their sessions. John-Paul used to be left handed, but post-operation he has no sensation or feeling in the left side of his body. Music therapy is where he first started to learn to re-use his left hand and fingers and has enabled him to put on a shirt and do up a button, a "phenomenal transformation from twelve months ago", Elaine said. He has also taught himself to write neatly with his right hand, thanks to his strong will and improved fine motor skills developed during music therapy.
Fiona and John-Paul have been using wind instruments to help with his facial palsy, but also to regulate his breathing, as one of the three tumours is on the medulla (the medulla controls autonomic functions and connects the higher levels of the brain to the spinal cord. It is also responsible for regulating several basic functions of the autonomic nervous system, including: respiration). John-Paul and his sister Sophia created an incredible video to capture just how important music therapy has been in his recovery, you can watch it below.
Your generous donations are helping children such as John-Paul access music therapy, as well as supporting research, care and development projects. You can make a big difference in helping us change the odds for kids with brain cancer, please donate here
John-Paul before brain surgery
John-Paul is a battler though, determined not to let brain cancer hold him back, despite the many physical and mental side effects that he has since experienced. When John-Paul underwent surgery, it wasn't known until after the tumour was removed that it was a grade 2/3 astrocytoma brain tumour.
Unfortunately, there are still some tumours remaining.
John-Paul after his brain surgery
Since his operation, John-Paul has been taking part in music therapy thanks to a Music Matters Grant from the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation. Read more about music therapy & Music Matters Grants here Like many other children who have brain surgery, John-Paul has experienced a range of serious side effects. One such side effect is the struggle he has regulating his emotions. On these challenging days, drums are used in his music therapy sessions to help alleviate any frustration. Elaine says his music therapist Fiona is great at working out what he should focus on during their sessions. John-Paul used to be left handed, but post-operation he has no sensation or feeling in the left side of his body. Music therapy is where he first started to learn to re-use his left hand and fingers and has enabled him to put on a shirt and do up a button, a "phenomenal transformation from twelve months ago", Elaine said. He has also taught himself to write neatly with his right hand, thanks to his strong will and improved fine motor skills developed during music therapy.
Fiona and John-Paul have been using wind instruments to help with his facial palsy, but also to regulate his breathing, as one of the three tumours is on the medulla (the medulla controls autonomic functions and connects the higher levels of the brain to the spinal cord. It is also responsible for regulating several basic functions of the autonomic nervous system, including: respiration). John-Paul and his sister Sophia created an incredible video to capture just how important music therapy has been in his recovery, you can watch it below.
Your generous donations are helping children such as John-Paul access music therapy, as well as supporting research, care and development projects. You can make a big difference in helping us change the odds for kids with brain cancer, please donate here
