$1M donation to Montreal Children’s Hospital music therapy program

Anybody doubting the positive effects of music therapy on young patients just need to spend a few minutes with 12-year-old Ella Huot-Attia.

“Music just brings more joy than you can imagine, especially when you’re in the wards or the recovery room,” she said.

Ella has episodic ataxia, a rare genetic disorder that causes problems with walking, moving and balancing. The condition also causes bouts of nerve and muscle pain.

“It causes muscle spasms and it causes a lot of pain in my hands to stiffen,” she said.

Ella, who also has an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation throughout her body, has been followed in music therapy for the last four years.

“When I stopped dancing it hurt me, but then I did music therapy, and music therapy gave me the courage to start dancing again,” she said. “So what’s music without dance?

“Music kind of filled that empty gap that I needed to continue dancing. And it kind of brought my spirit back.

“I love humming Disney songs. Sometimes it drives mommy and everybody in the house insane. But it’s because I never stop, which is a good thing.”

Ella Huot-Attia, 12, at Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation music therapy press conference Aug. 29, 2023. (Martin Daigle, CityNews)

Young patients at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, like Ella, will be able to take part in music therapy for years to come following a $1 million donation from a pair of philanthropists.

The Fondation Sandra et Alain Bouchard presented the donation to the hospital foundation Tuesday morning. Alain Bouchard is the co-founder of Alimentation Couche-Tard.

“It’s going to change the lives of everybody,” said Ella.

Music therapy can make a child’s hospital situation less scary, the Montreal Children’s says, while also helping young patients express their emotions.

‘Ella’s face would light up’

Ella’s mother Anne-Marie Huot says the benefits of music therapy on her girl were obvious from the very beginning.

“Before the pandemic, Ella danced eight hours a week and music was just always in her blood. It ran through her,” she said. “There was never a time she was sitting still. It was always dancing, singing, being musical. During the pandemic, she got a lot sicker and she lost a lot of strength and was in a lot of pain and in the hospital, more than home.

“And every time that (music therapist Christelle Jacquet) would come to the door to play music, Ella’s face would light up. Even when she was barely conscious. You could see the joy in her face. And whether it was Ella belting out songs or Christelle playing softly to her while she tried to deal with the pain, it was life-changing for her.

“The program just brings sunshine every time we’re here.”

Charlotte Cardin, an ambassador for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, speaking to 12-year-old Ella Huot-Attia at a music therapy press conference Aug. 29, 2023. (Martin Daigle, CityNews)

Jacquet says the $1 million donation provides security for the program’s future.

“For the three of us to continue to do work on the wards, following patients that are hospitalized for about a month or more,” said the music therapist. “So we can continue on with the work in a more secure fashion. And yeah, so we can keep on having some wonderful time with patients like Ella who shared her gift today.”

Ella performed a song at Tuesday’s press conference – with a fitting title, according to her music therapist.

“She has that ability to connect with her creativity and just go with it as you saw on stage, she is such a beautiful musical being,” said Jacquet. “She lights up with music, which makes a lot of sense that she found that title ‘Let the Sunshine In’ because she has a lot of sunshine in her heart and it shows a lot in music.”

Quebec singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin, the MCH foundation’s newest ambassador, was on hand for the announcement.

“Ella thank you so much for that beautiful performance, you are such a natural, the way you communicate with a crowd is just… you’re going to have to give me tips on that – you’re amazing,” said Cardin, who just released her latest album.