Community Corner

Young Woman in Need of Double Lung Transplant to Taylor Swift: 'Thank You for Being An Inspiration'

Tiffany Rich's bucket list includes new lungs and meeting the pop superstar. Listen to her touching request. #1989tourSantaClara

By Bea Karnes and Autumn Johnson

An East Bay woman waiting for a double lung transplant is keeping her spirits up by listening to her favorite performer -- Taylor Swift.

Brentwood resident Tiffany Rich, 26, has cystic fibrosis. The big #Swiftie, as Taylor Swift fans call themselves, has tickets to attend the pop star’s concert at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Aug. 15.

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Using the hashtag #Lungs4Tiff, Rich has launched a social media campaign to personally meet her β€œinspiration” at the concert.

On July 30, Rich posted the photo of her with a message to Swift and tweeted, β€œDear @taylorswift13 #CysticFibrosis #Swifties #bucketlist #1989tourSantaClara #doublelungtransplant #lungs4tiff.”

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β€œMy best friend Kelsey and I have been preparing for this concert since we bought the tickets back in December,” Rich told Patch. β€œWe have made big posters. Mine has lights and has big lettering that reads β€˜GOALS’ at the top then two check boxes that have next to them β€˜new lungs’ and then β€˜take a selfie with Tay.’”

This week, Rich recorded a message for Swift and shared it with Patch.


Rich is still waiting to hear back from Taylor Swift, who’s known for being responsive to her fans. Other Swifties have taken up her cause and have retweeted Rich’s online plea hundreds of times in hopes of getting a response from Swift.

While waiting to hear whether she’ll get her selfie, Rich is looking forward to the concert with her friend. β€œWe have literally been waiting for another concert since her last one. We went to her RED tour and caught her last show of the tour in LA. We always have so much fun, dancing and singing while watching Taylor perform.”

Swift has not yet been reached for comment.

More Taylor Swift coverage on Patch:

Photo courtesy Tiffany Rich via Twitter

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