Taylor Swift made a generous donation amounting to $100,000 to two-year-old patient Lilah Smoot, who is battling cancer. The Grammy-winning singer not only became the top donor for the GoFundMe campaign, but she also left a heartwarming message: “Sending the biggest hug to my friend, Lilah! Love, Taylor”
Katelynn Smoot, Lilah’s mother, has been posting TikTok videos where Lilah is seen dancing to Swift’s songs, and in one scene, the little girl referred to the singer as her friend.
Swift’s donation makes a huge impact on the Smoot family, who had been struggling to get Lilah her much-needed medical help. The campaign was created on March 13th and has raised more than $260,000 at the time of this writing.
What Happened to Lilah Smoot? The 2-Year-Old Swiftie’s Journey Fighting Cancer
According to Smoot’s GoFundMe description, Lilah’s cancer journey started when she suffered a seizure at 18 months old. The doctors discovered a mass on her brain, which was found to be a stage 4 tumor.
Lilah underwent brain surgery to get rid of the tumor, and thankfully, the procedure was successful. What would have been a celebration turned into a nightmare when, later in the week, she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer.
Her condition is rare, as there are only 58 documented cases across the United States. Lilah was to have 3 months of chemotherapy and 3 months of stem cell treatment to fully remove the cancer.
On October 17th, Lilah’s mother expressed gratitude towards Swift for her generous help via TikTok:
I cannot say thank you enough. I’m truly in shock. This means we don’t have to worry about anything other than Lilah. Truly such a blessing. Thank you Taylor Swift.
Smoot added that the donation lifted so much burden from the family, allowing them to just focus on Lilah and not worry about financial problems.
Taylor Swift’s Charity Extends Beyond Helping Kids Battling Sickness
As one of the most influential people in Hollywood, Swift has been using her platform, money, and fame to help those in need. Apart from donating to patients fighting chronic and serious illnesses, she’s also made several philanthropic contributions over the years.
In 2024, she donated $5 million to Feed America to help sponsor relief efforts after hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaged through Florida (via Billboard). In 2022, Swift donated a sizable amount to Beth Stern’s pet rescue foundation. In 2020, the singer gave $30,000 to a college fund campaign created by aspiring mathematician, Vitoria Mario.
Swift has made several donations to different causes as early as 2011, proving how she has always been a Good Samaritan to others.
What do you think of Swift’s humanitarian efforts? Share your thoughts below!
