This past weekend, Brilea Southard, a 15-year-old who’d spent the last 325 days in the hospital following a head-on car crash, had a memorable first outing: attending Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert in Indianapolis. She was critically injured last December and has since undergone over 20 surgeries and continues to face serious health challenges. Despite her lengthy recovery, doctors gave her the go-ahead to attend the concert, marking her first time leaving the hospital in nearly a year.
Southard was joined by 15 other pediatric patients from Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, each dealing with their own health struggles. They learned about the surprise earlier in the week during a Taylor Swift-themed event at the hospital, initially believing they were there to make friendship bracelets and play trivia. During the final trivia question, they learned they’d be attending the concert, which led to tears, cheers, and laughter from the surprised young fans.
The tickets, which were donated by Riley Children’s Foundation and Denney Excavating, brought joy and excitement to the kids. Emma Sully, 12, who had a heart transplant, expressed gratitude, and seven-year-old Izzy Boyd, who has sickle cell disease, shared how Swift’s music has been a comfort during her battle with the disease. Another attendee, 11-year-old Charily Carty, fighting a rare genetic disorder, said she felt overwhelmed with joy and was looking forward to handing out friendship bracelets at the show.
Source: PEOPLE