Jonas Brothers' visit to a teenager with cancer shows the positive power of social media



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Lily Jordan's plans to see the Jonas Brothers in concert on Aug. 31 were disappointed with a chemotherapy session.

So instead, the Jonas Brothers came to see her.

"It's really surreal," Lily told a press conference at Milton S. Hershey's Penn S. Health Medical Center. "As people can attest, it started as a joke. I was bored in my hospital room and thought, "It would not be funny if I reached out to the Jonas Brothers and said," Hey, I miss your concert, but I'm a block away? Knew, we were viral, I guess you could say. "

The 16-year-old Hershey Medical Center is treating osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. When she realized that her treatment program would prevent her from going, she was "really depressed".

"I was so excited," she said. "I told people that I was going to the concert. And then I had to start the chemo again. About a week before, I started doing the calculations in my head. And I said, "I will not be able to see them." Each of these things you have to miss because of chemo is another defeat. "

Lily shared an article on her Instagram page, tagging the official Instagram profile of the Jonas Brothers, and noting that her hospital room was not far from Hersheypark Stadium where they would play.

Lily's friends shared the message. The same was true for students in his Penn State THON Support Group, his medical team and many others.

"It was everywhere," she said. "Congressman Scott Perry has retweeted it. He also said that I was fighting for my life, which is a bit dramatic. But thanks for the plug anyway, Scott Perry. It was very kind of you!

To Lily's surprise, the collective momentum of shared publishing has indeed been noticed by the Jonas Brothers. And before their concert on August 31, Lily, her family and hospital staff were informed that the trio actually intended to come by and visit her.

  • READ MORE: Jonas Brothers lead Camp Hill teenager with cancer at Hershey Medical Center

"Social media support was so amazing and I felt so loved and supported," said Lily. "Even if the Jonas Brothers do not come, it does not matter, I feel so warm knowing that all these people are shooting for me."

"Of course, at this point, they could not really refuse," she joked.

Lily said that prior to their arrival on August 31, she was struggling to get treatment, but the adrenaline that triggered helped relieve the symptoms of the chemo.

As a child follower since childhood, Lily said her encounter with the Jonas Brothers was a source of nostalgia – her favorite songs date back to the group's early days, including "S.O.S.", as well as enthusiasm for their current work.

"I said in the video that I felt geeky," she said. "I guess it's the best way to describe it.I was proud of myself.I can at least say that I can afford to err too much clumsiness and I was very proud of how which I managed with the Jonas Brothers, and one of them is married to Sansa Stark, which is great. "

The actress Sophie Turner, who is married to Joe Jonas and played Sansa Stark in "Game of Thrones", did not make an appearance, missing the opportunity to see a banner of the Stark house hanging in the room of the 'hospital. singer and model Priyanka Chopra, married to Nick Jonas.

When asked who was his favorite among the Jonas Brothers, Lily first answered "Priyanka" before reluctantly trying to rank the musicians.

"Before the meeting, I really liked Joe, but after the meeting, I think it's Kevin," she admitted. "Kevin gives the best hugs. I told him that I liked his jacket. I think I spoke to her the most within 45 seconds that I was really talking to them. But Kevin, he's pretty cool. He was definitely underestimated before I spoke to him. I like Kevin now. "

"It was surreal," said Lacy Jordan, Lily's mother. "We were in this room where Lily has been so often, a room where she is following treatments, it is sometimes painful, sometimes sad, we feel lonely.We are so familiar with these rooms that we went again and again And that these four people enter the room and that the room suddenly becomes this space of euphoric and amazing space.It was absolutely surreal. "

"In order for them to be able to change all this environment, to transform it and turn it into a magical space, amazing, it was really … words can not express how amazing it was, and the gift that they did Lily, to do that, she said.

The event catapulted Lily into the spotlight. In addition to the viral visit, her Instagram account is now followed by several thousand people and she has been inundated with requests for interviews, so numerous that she had to hold a press conference.

"It's a bit overwhelming not to lie," Lily said. "My instagram is now constant notifications. I am not the person who cares about how many loves, but new followers and new things. I woke up when my mother said, "You are everywhere. I do not want to shock you but you are on "Good Morning America". It was crazy. I think I need to improve my game a bit on Instagram because I now have quite a large number of fans. And then, I do not know. Maybe I'll send an email to Ellen? Ellen Degeneres, if you look! "

  • READ MORE: Jonas Brothers concert rank at Hersheypark stadium by shouting from the audience

Jokingly that she "loves to talk about myself," Lily also explained how she documented her difficulties with cancer treatment on social networks, answering questions and sharing her feelings throughout the rest of her life. chemo sessions, stays at the hospital and convalescence at home.

"People can not help you if you do not say exactly what's going on," she said. "I feel – as a person willing to share what can sometimes be perceived as too much information – it would have been very useful when I started if someone shared information." . Hey, you'll feel bad sometimes. And you will not want to get up from bed. And it's okay. It's normal. I try to be the person I would have needed four years ago. I'm trying to be this person for other people.

Lily also shared connection stories with other people who were following treatments or their loved ones.

"I sometimes have mothers who say they have children or have lost children because of cancer," she said. "And they say that the things I say are useful and enjoyable to hear. If I can do it for someone, I should definitely do it. If my publications can help people, I think that's what matters. "

Social media, she said, can often be "a bit of a garbage bomb sometimes." But her opportunities to connect with others, draw attention to "the incredible work of the Penn State Hershey Pediatric Hospital and Four Diamonds, and all the extraordinary work they do for childhood cancer and childhood cancer awareness "- and yes, the opportunity to meet celebrities and meet them in person – can "Transforming a not so extraordinary situation into a truly magnificent thing".

"This is something important that I have removed from this," she said. "The power of social media is really amazing."

Lily is currently spending time making bracelets that she sells for $ 5 each to raise funds for the Four Diamonds organization. For more information, contact [email protected].

As for his contact with the Jonas Brothers?

"I know they always do one," said Lily. "They are in magazines. But they created a beautiful monster. And if they look, I want to thank you, you're awesome and maybe at a next concert. "

"Plus, they are shorter in real life," she added.

"It was not back," said his father, Rick Jordan.

"I'm small too, I'm fine!" Lily burst out laughing, embarrassed. "I should not have said that!"

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