Lisa Fleming, a 49-year-old mother of four, knows what it means to be tested by life — and to find solace in music during its darkest moments. A lifelong Taylor Swift fan, Fleming has recently turned that devotion into a lifeline, both emotionally and financially, as she navigates the challenges of caring for her son with complex medical needs.
“I’ve been a fan since the beginning,” Fleming says, reflecting on her decades-long connection to Swift’s music. She remembers watching the singer’s early days in Nashville, when Swift was a young country artist striving to break through, and has followed every step of her rise to global superstardom.
“My family says, ‘Oh, she’s an off-the-rails Swiftie,’” Fleming admits with a laugh. “But how can you not be?”
For Fleming, Swift’s music has always provided a backdrop to her life, but no album has felt more personal than Midnights, released in September 2023 — a time when Fleming faced one of the most harrowing challenges of her life.
That month, her adult son, who has lived with cerebral palsy his entire life, suffered a ruptured esophagus. He was airlifted to a hospital in Orlando, hours from their home, requiring round-the-clock medical care. The sudden crisis left Fleming unable to maintain her job, forcing her to make a heart-wrenching choice between her livelihood and her child’s care.
Amid the stress and uncertainty, Swift’s Midnights became more than just an album — it became a lifeline. Fleming leaned on the music for comfort, inspiration, and an unexpected sense of community. The support didn’t stop there. Fellow Swift fans, known for their devotion and generosity, rallied in ways Fleming never anticipated, helping her launch a small business to support her family during the crisis.
“Taylor’s music always made me feel seen, but this time it was different,” Fleming says. “It was like the world was telling me, ‘You’re not alone.’ And in that moment, I realized my love for her wasn’t just fandom — it was survival.”
Lisa Fleming and Son.
Lisa Fleming
“I was listening to it during a really hard time, and it was keeping me uplifted,” Fleming recalls.
As weeks in the hospital stretched into months, she searched for a way to bring a little joy to her son and the other children in the ward. With Halloween approaching, Fleming noticed many of the kids couldn’t have candy, and some were too confined to even leave their beds. But one line from Swift’s Midnights kept echoing in her mind: “Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it,” from the track You’re On Your Own, Kid.
“So I started making bracelets,” Fleming says simply.
Some featured Swift’s lyrics, inspired by the bracelets fans would later trade in droves at the singer’s record-breaking Eras Tour. Others carried messages of awareness and positivity about various medical conditions.
By Halloween, Fleming had embraced the full spirit of the season — and of her favorite artist. “I dressed up in my sparkly Chiefs attire and my sparkly boots, made bag after bag of friendship bracelets, and went out to the neighborhood to hand them to the kids,” she says. “You know, everyone loves Taylor Swift.”
Lisa Fleming’s Friendship Bracelets.
Lisa Fleming
When Fleming and her son finally returned home after the extended hospital stay, their family’s world had shifted dramatically. What had once been a two-income household was now down to one, while her son’s medical needs had grown more complex, requiring additional in-home equipment and driving expenses even higher.
“There are a lot of costs, and the insurance doesn’t cover everything when you’re caring for someone with such significant needs,” Fleming explains. “We found ourselves in a tough spot.”
Despite the mounting pressures, Fleming remained her son’s full-time caregiver. Yet in the rare pockets of free time, she retreated to her “studio” — a workspace filled with guitars, framed photos of Taylor Swift, and, of course, thousands of beads — to continue crafting bracelets.
“That’s what I’ve been doing all morning,” she says. “That’s what I’ll be doing the rest of the night.”
Lisa Fleming.
Lisa Fleming
In July 2024, Fleming launched her Etsy shop, Long Story Short Bracelet Co., and almost immediately found herself embraced by the Swiftie community online. Larger creators within the fandom on Instagram and TikTok quickly discovered her shop and used their platforms to amplify her story, sharing it far and wide.
“They’ve been amazing — just the most genuine, caring, and supportive group of people,” Fleming says. “It only took me mentioning my son very briefly for everyone to jump in. They were like, ‘We can do this. We can all rally together and get your story out there.’”
Lisa Fleming’s Friendship Bracelets.
Lisa Fleming
Since launching her Etsy shop a year and a half ago, Fleming has sold thousands of items and received hundreds of glowing reviews. Her efforts have extended beyond her store: she started a GoFundMe campaign to raise the more than $80,000 her family needs to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van, allowing them to travel together safely. Dozens of supportive Swifties have donated $13 each — a nod to Taylor Swift’s favorite number and the fandom that brought them together.
“I can’t say enough about the camaraderie and the friendship that is genuinely there,” Fleming says.
She also speaks warmly of Swift herself, particularly the star’s regular visits to hospitals to meet children receiving care.
“It’s so heartwarming to see all the visits to children’s hospitals she has done and the difference it makes in their lives,” Fleming says. “It’s so important to bring 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.”
