Millions of fans around the world — but none like Sadie Bartell.
The 25-year-old Swiftie revealed how a generous 2018 donation from Swift, 34, continues to make a major impact on her and her family’s lives in an interview with Hello! Magazine published on Monday, November 11.
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One of six children from place Idaho, Sadie and her family have provided 24-7 care for her mother, Lauriann Bartell, since she suffered brain damage from a bleeding ulcer in 2015. After Sadie detailed their personal and financial struggles via Tumblr — where Swift is known to interact with her fans — in 2018, the Grammy winner surprised the Bartells by donating $15,5000.
“I truly don’t know what would have happened to my family, to our home,” Sadie told the outlet. “It was [Taylor’s donation] that pulled us out of the hole we were in. There’s always been so much financial anxiety in our situation and it just gave my family the peace that we needed.”
Swift’s donation was significant to Sadie as she was “majorly depressed” at the time. “I’ve struggled with depression since I was 13 and Taylor has been my number one through all of it. I was probably the most depressed I’ve been in my life,” she shared. “Taylor donating to my family is what pulled me out of that depression and made me see the light. It was like she took my hand and she guided me out. Her doing that saved me.”
The GoFundMe page for Sadie’s mother was launched in September 2015 and has raised over $35,000 out of the campaign’s $60,000 goal. Swift’s gift remains the page’s top donation, along with anonymous donations of $5,000 and $1,000.
“Love, Taylor, Meredith and Olivia Swift,” Swift wrote on the page, referencing two of her cats, per ABC News. Sadie reportedly tweeted in response, “You guys this is amazing. I love Taylor so much.”
The “Anti-Hero” singer has remained a source of comfort for Sadie, who continues to battle health issues of her own. “I have MS and I have an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa, which is the deterioration of your retinas,” she explained. “I lost all of my independence and I can’t see. I’m mostly blind now and I can’t drive a car or work.”
She continued: “Now more than ever, I’ve held on to the fact that Taylor — who has meant the most to me in my life — showed she cared about me. She gets me through every MS treatment. Her act of kindness has continued [to] be my rock.”
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Sadie, who has been a Swiftie since she was nine years old, has yet to meet Swift face-to-face. “It’s one of my biggest dreams to get to thank her for this and for everything else that she has done for me in my life in person,” she gushed. “I want so badly to tell her thank you and how much I love her.”
Swift has recently used her record-breaking Eras Tour, which launched in March 2023 and wraps next month, to raise money in cities where she stops. She donated to several food banks across the U.K. during the European leg of the tour this summer. Including making the largest individual donation to the Cardiff Foodbank in Cardiff, Wales, per The Guardian.
Last month, Swift donated $5 million to Feeding America to support people affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead,” the organization wrote in an October 9 Instagram post. “Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and for helping communities in need.”