Taylor Swift has paid an emotional tribute to a “brave” fan for teaching her about cancer.
The 25-year-old singer, who revealed her mother, Andrea, was diagnosed with the disease in April, brought concert-goers in Glendale, Arizona to tears on 17 August after she thanked Maya Thompson for sharing her story online about her late three-year-old son, Ronan, who died from neuroblastoma in 2011, and performing the track 'Ronan,' which was inspired by him.
Before singing the song for the second time ever and dedicating it to Maya, the blonde beauty told the crowd: “I think that in my opinion, one of the greatest things that a human being can ever do, is to go through something unbearable and then share their experience with the world. And I think, the braver you are, the more completely honest you are.
“There's a woman here tonight named Maya Thompson...and I wouldn't know half as much as I know about childhood cancer and childhood cancer research if she hadn't shared her story about her son Ronan.
“The thing about childhood cancer is that it's really really hard to talk about. And it's really not something that you bring up...but the fact that she brought it up, she had this blog called Rockstar Ronan and I would read it every night. And in it was this account of what it was like to watch cancer take over my life. And since then, I've had cancer hit really close to me in my family. So because Maya's right there, I would like you to give her a round of applause, please. I just wanted to take a moment and try to play this song...I think because Maya's here tonight, I think she deserves it.”
Taylor also met Maya after the gig and she later thanked the 'Style' hitmaker on Twitter, writing: “I still can't believe tonight. I still can't believe you did this. This will forever be one of the most special moments of my life. Thank you @taylorswift for your beautiful heart and for never forgetting my Ro. I love you to the moon and back.”
Bang Showbiz