How Taylor Swift Inspired A Struggling Mom To Survive Her Darkest Days

Music often carries people through the hardest parts of life, and for one mom, Taylor Swift’s songs became her lifeline.

Lisa Fleming, a 49-year-old mom of four, says she has been a devoted fan since Swift’s Nashville days.

However, when her family faced a terrifying medical crisis and financial struggles, it was the singer’s “Midnights” album that helped her keep going.

Through one simple lyric, Fleming found the strength to create hope for herself, her son, and an entire community.

Speaking to PEOPLE Magazine, Fleming revealed that she has loved Swift since the very beginning of her career.

“I’ve been a fan since the beginning,” she explained, remembering when the Grammy Award winner was just a teenage country star in Nashville.

She said her passion for the singer has only grown stronger over the years as Swift transformed into one of the biggest artists in the world.

“My family says, ‘Oh, she’s an off-the-rails Swiftie,’” Fleming admitted. “But how can you not be?”

For Fleming, every album has carried personal meaning. She explained that Swift’s music has soundtracked nearly every stage of her life, from happy memories to heartbreak.

But one album, Swift’s 10th studio project, “Midnights,” arrived at a time when she needed it more than ever.

“The songs spoke to me in a way that kept me moving forward,” she shared.

In September 2023, Fleming’s adult son, who has lived his whole life with cerebral palsy, suddenly developed a ruptured esophagus.

The medical crisis required him to be airlifted to an Orlando hospital, hours away from their home.

He needed around-the-clock care, and the doting mom’s world quickly fell apart. She lost her job while staying by his side and faced the crushing fear of not knowing if he would survive.

It was during this time of long nights and constant stress that “Midnights” was released.

Recalling how the album helped her, Fleming shared, “I was listening to it during a really hard time, and it was keeping me uplifted.”

She leaned on Swift’s lyrics every day while trying to stay strong for her son. The music provided not only comfort but also inspiration for an idea that would eventually bring light to others in the hospital.

As Halloween approached, Fleming noticed that many children in the hospital ward couldn’t go out trick-or-treating. Some weren’t even able to leave their beds.

That’s when a line from Swift’s “Midnights” track “You’re On Your Own, Kid” began ringing in her mind. The lyrics read, “Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.”

Fleming shared that the lyric inspired her to start making bracelets. At first, she made them for her son and a few other kids nearby.

Some bracelets carried Swift’s lyrics, while others had words of encouragement and awareness about different medical conditions. Soon, her idea spread joy throughout the hospital.

For Halloween, Fleming dressed up in sparkly Kansas City Chiefs gear, put on her glittery boots, and made bags full of bracelets to give away. “You know, everyone loves Taylor Swift,” she said with a smile.

When Fleming and her son were finally discharged, their family life had changed completely.

The household went from two incomes to one, and new medical equipment made their expenses increase.

Despite the challenges, she kept making bracelets at her small workstation, which she called her “studio.” It was filled with her guitars, framed photos of Taylor Swift, and thousands of colorful beads.

“That’s what I’ve been doing all morning,” she laughed. “That’s what I’ll be doing the rest of the night.”

By July 2024, Fleming officially launched her Etsy shop, Long Story Short Bracelet Co. To her surprise, the Swiftie community online embraced her story right away.

Big creators on Instagram and TikTok shared her shop, and suddenly, thousands of people were buying her work.

What moved her most was how quickly strangers united to help her. “It only took me talking about my son very briefly for everyone to just jump in,” she explained.

Since starting her shop, Fleming has sold thousands of bracelets and received lovely reviews.

Supporters have also contributed to her GoFundMe, which aims to raise $80,000 for a wheelchair van that would allow her family to travel together.

Many Swifties even donated $13 each, a tribute to the “Cruel Summer” crooner’s favorite number. Fleming said the symbolic gesture showed how deeply connected the community is.

She also praised Swift for her own efforts to visit children’s hospitals, calling her actions “heartwarming.”

Fleming stressed the importance of bringing awareness to kids who are going through things that most people don’t ever have to think about. “I’m very grateful to be a part of that community,” she stated.