Photo: Screenshot
Florence And The Machine's Florence Welch performed a one-hour private gig for a bedridden teenage cancer sufferer who was unable to attend her concert.
15-year-old Karinya Chen had bought tickets to see the band play in Austin, but is suffering from a rare cancer called Paraganglioma that can affect the head, neck, thorax and abdomen, and was unable to attend. She is being treated in a hospice care facility.
Karinya’s friends and family posted on social media about the touching moment. Karinya’s mother, Catherine Chen, wrote on her Instagram, "@florence of #Florence&TheMachine is such a beautiful and kind soul!! She brought so much joy to all of us today. What a Blessing!!"
Karinya’s friend, Hannah, posted a clip on her Tumblr, with the caption, “we can not thank them enough for giving her this gift.”
Christie Karamer, a nurse at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, where Chen was staying, shared the story. According to Yahoo News, the nurse said, "We have a patient who held long cherished tickets to see Florence and The Machine last night with her BFF. All week through set back after set back she asked if she would be able to go.”
"We tried to entertain the idea and it felt so scary and overwhelming for the medical staff and her mother that finally I said no, and my heart broke again”
"And then," Christie continued, "through a remarkable team effort on the part of Christopher House and Hospice Austin Staff, we were able to make contact with Florence. My patient's mom was so nervous - will she really come? Is she here yet? She kept popping out of the room and checking.”
"And Florence came. And her mom burst into tears of joy at the sight of her and Florence gave her a big hug."
Hospice Austin’s Christopher House posted a few clips of the magical moment on Instagram too.
Florence And The Machine will be headlining the Barclaycard British Summer Time Festival in July. To buy tickets and for more information, click here.
