Erin Rocks Out At Her First Stones Show

For a teenager, Erin’s favorite band is not one that you might immediately expect. Formed over 40 years before she was born and active for nearly six decades, the seventeen-year-old’s favorite group is none other than rock pioneers The Rolling Stones. “I love their songs,” Erin says, “I listen to them every single night.”

In late 2020, Erin was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer that limits the body's ability to fight infection. Her love of music was ever-present during her treatments and when the time came to declare her fondest wish, she wanted the opportunity to hear all her favorite Rolling Stones songs live.

Nearly a year after her diagnosis, Erin and her family were on a plane to Austin, Texas to see the musicians in action. “Erin’s experience of seeing The Rolling Stones was nothing short of a dream come true,” her mom Lauren says. “From the rides to and from the airport, Erin and my husband Steven and I felt like nothing but VIPs with all the experiences, gifts, and details of the entire weekend.”

After checking into their hotel, Erin was surprised with a gift bag full of Rolling Stones merchandise, from shirts and hats and scarves to VIP Passes for a special reception before the concert. “Erin immediately put some of her new Stones swag on for us to explore the city of Austin,” her mom continues. “Everywhere we went, fellow Stones fans stopped us along the way when they saw Erin’s shirt and hat to talk about the upcoming concert, which just further energized Erin’s excitement about what was coming up the next day. We have not seen Erin have the energy, motivation and stamina to walk that much since well before her diagnosis.”

The following day was the moment Erin had long been waiting for – her first Rolling Stones show! “The concert was incredible,” Lauren says. “There are no words and not enough pictures to describe the magic of getting to hear and see music legends in a once in a lifetime setting. Seeing Erin smiling, singing, clapping and cheering through the night was truly the best gift for all of us. The best part of this experience is the positive change in head and heart we saw in Erin the weekend of the trip, and we continue to see every day since. It’s priceless. We cannot express enough gratitude for what you have done for Erin, and all of us.”