Ed Sheeran sang to fan with cystic fibrosis minutes before she died

Triona Priestley

Over the weekend friends of 15-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer Triona Prisetley from Dublin started the #SongForTri online campaign in hopes of fulfilling her dream of talking to her idol Ed Sheeran, and the golden-hearted singer answered the call by making the call and serenading Tori with her favorite song, “Little Bird,” just minutes before she passed away.

Triona’s brother Colm Priestley spoke with Independent.IE, who were early supporters of the #songfortri campaign, the day after his sister died. “Myself and my family would like to thank Ed Sheeran and everyone who started and supported the #SongForTri campaign,” he said. “What they gave us and her was a beautiful last moment together.”

Triona Priestley, who had cystic fibrosis and received a call from Ed Sheeran just before she diedEd Sheeran singing
^ Triona Proestley and her idol Ed Sheeran

Colm talked about the emotional phone call with Sheeran: “Triona slipped into a sleep as Ed was singing to her and passed away shortly afterwards. So Ed Sheeran sang her to sleep.”

Colm concluded, “We are all so proud of Triona and how she fought Cystic Fibrosis. Everyone loved Triona so much and she knew that. Thank you.”

Triona’s friend Lucy Hanlon, who was the contact person for Ed Sheeran’s rep in setting up the phone call, posted this message on Twitter and Facebook:

Ed Sheeran also addresses Triona’s passing on Twitter yesterday:

 

Someone must have made Ed aware of Triona’s dire condition because he previously tweeted to her just a couple days prior letting her know that he would see her when he was in Europe in October:

 

Triona’s brother Colm wrote a song for his sister and posted a video clip of himself performing the song a cappella back in November. Here is the clip preceded by Colm’s description in which he reveals he is also a cystic fibrosis sufferer, followed by the lyrics:


The Strongest

I know it’s hard now
It’s harder than I know
All that you wanted was
Just one thing you deserve

I know it’s tiring
To always be fighting
If you say you’ve lost your
Motivation I understand

From the day you were born
You know I adored you
I remember you coming home
And from the moment
I got to hold you
You’ve been the strongest one that I know

Sometimes we’re best friends
I believe every word when
You’re sitting beside me singing
No I won’t back down

It’s in all our photos
But still if you don’t know
I’m so proud of you
And all the strength you’ve shown

From the day you were born
You know I adored you
I remember you coming home
And from the moment
I got to hold you
You’ve been the strongest one that I know

I adore you
The strongest one that I know
So proud of you
The strongest one that I know

Rest in peace Triona.

For those of you wanting to know more about cystic fibrosis, be sure to watch the amazing (and be forewarned — heart-wrenching) documentary 65_RedRoses about Eva, a young Canadian woman struggling with the disease. It will change your life.



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