How Taylor Swift's broken heel changed Brazil fan's life
What's the story
Felipe Conrado, a 33-year-old communications manager and die-hard Taylor Swift fan from Brazil, attended the singer's last Eras Tour show in Rio de Janeiro. Little did he know that the concert would change his life and his family's future. Weeks before the concert, Conrado's cousin Angela was diagnosed with cancer. After her health insurance failed to fully cover her treatment costs, the family struggled to raise funds for her chemotherapy.
Unexpected catch
Conrado caught Swift's broken heel at concert
Conrado was in the front row when he saw Swift crouching down on stage. He witnessed her throw something his way and instinctively caught it. "That's when I noticed the right Louboutin boot heel from her Lover era land perfectly in my hands," he told PEOPLE. "I quickly put the shoe in a bag I was carrying, and only after looking at that shiny piece did I understand—I'd just received a historic item from the original Eras Tour wardrobe."
Fundraising idea
Conrado planned to sell the heel for Angela's treatment
Despite his excitement over catching such an iconic piece of memorabilia, Conrado soon realized he could sell it to help raise funds for Angela's treatment. After sharing his plan on social media, he faced some criticism but also received numerous messages from people offering their support. One Swift fan, Andrea Rumsey, translated Conrado's post into English and mobilized hundreds of other fans through a movement called #KeepTheHeel.
Unexpected support
#KeepTheHeel movement surprised Conrado
The #KeepTheHeel movement sought to raise money for Angela's treatment without Conrado having to sell the heel. "I knew many fans would hear about the story because it was so unexpected, involving the biggest artist of our generation, but it filled me with happiness to see fans mobilize," he said. "It was an incredibly thoughtful movement, aimed at helping my cousin and keeping Taylor's gift in the hands of the fan who caught it."
Designer's support
Christian Louboutin's gesture brought hope to Conrado's family
The social media posts eventually caught the attention of Christian Louboutin, the designer of the boot heel. He sent Conrado a handwritten letter, saying he wanted to help pay for Angela's treatment. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine something like this could happen," an emotional Conrado said. "The first thing I did was call my cousin, who cried with happiness and emotion." Angela completed her treatment in September and is doing well, all thanks to this unexpected event.