Taylor Swift donates $100K to young fan Lilah, sends ‘biggest hug’
MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA: Taylor swift once again showed her generosity on Friday, October 17, donating $100,000 via GoFundMe to support the family of a 2-year-old fan, Lilah Smoot, who is battling stage 4 brain cancer.
Lilah has been fighting an extremely rare and aggressive form of the disease since suffering a seizure at just 18 months old. According to the family’s GoFundMe page, only 58 such cases were documented in the US last year.
Lilah’s journey and Taylor Swift’s connection
Lilah’s story gained attention after her mother, Katelynn Smoot, shared a TikTok video on October 8 titled 'Stand with Lilah.' The clip showed the toddler watching a Taylor Swift video on an iPad and calling the pop star her “friend.”
In the caption, Katelynn joked, “This might be my fault,” explaining that Lilah was conceived during a period when she listened to Swift’s music constantly and had even planned to name her daughter 'Willow.'
She added, “I listened to Taylor my whole pregnancy and then birthed a mini Swiftie. Lilah loves Taylor’s music, and during her cancer treatment, she always found joy in it.”
According to the GoFundMe page, doctors successfully removed a mass from Lilah’s brain, but her treatment includes six months of chemotherapy, stem cell therapy, and a month of proton radiation. The family faces long hospital stays and frequent travel as part of her care.
Taylor Swift’s generous response
Just over a week after the TikTok went viral, Swift, saw Lilah’s story and donated $100,000 to the GoFundMe page, helping the family surpass their fundraising goal. The singer also left a personal message: “Sending the biggest hug to my friend, Lilah! Love, Taylor.”
Following the donation, Katelynn posted an emotional update showing the family dancing to Swift’s new track “The Fate of Ophelia.” “Is this real life?” she wrote. “Thank you so, so much, @taylorswift. I am in shock. Tyler and I can just focus on our baby girl and being together as a family.”
The video also featured Lilah thanking her “friend” Taylor, with Katelynn adding, “I can’t stop crying. You have given us such a beautiful gift.” Swift’s contribution means the Smoot family can now prioritize Lilah’s care and time together over mounting expenses.
