Everyone’s favourite musical nice guy Ed Sheeran is at it again.
Ed has just donated his signature guitar to a terminally ill fan, named Melody Driscoll, who is battling incurable Rett syndrome, and left in incredible pain at the age of just 11.
The guitar will be put up for auction by Melody’s parents, Karina and Nigel Driscoll, who are facing a £50,000 legal fight over the care of daughter Melody.
Melody is Ed’s biggest fan, and she would blow kisses at the redheaded maestro when she saw him on the TV.
Ed and Melody first met in November 2016, when the Thinking Out Loud singer visited the youngster in hospital, and later the pair enjoyed a second meeting at a private show held at London’s O2 arena.
Karina said they developed ‘a lovely instant bond’. And now it seems the third time’s the charm, The Mirror reports.
Ed is hoping the money from the sale of his guitar – which he signed ‘Play this guitar, lots of love, Ed’ – will help Melody get the pain medication her parents believe is best.
Doctors at London’s King’s College Hospital are withdrawing morphine and steroids which Karina, 35, and Nigel, 46, say help relieve agonising stomach pains.
They are trying to force medics into a U-turn and are grateful for the backing of Ed, famed for No. 1 hits like Shape of You and Perfect.
Karina said:
We’re completely overwhelmed. It’s so lovely he’d think of us in this way. We are going to run a raffle so all of Ed’s fans have an equal chance of winning.
Melody may not be able to talk, but she certainly has an amazing, bubbly personality.
Whenever Ed came on TV, her face would light up and she’d blow kisses at him. We joked that he was her boyfriend. When they met they had an instant, lovely bond.
But the family’s world was shattered last October when doctors announced they planned to wean Melody off her pain relief medication over concerns it could damage her liver.
The Driscolls say this left Melody screaming in pain and they argue she should be allowed to live out whatever time she has left in comfort.
Social workers threatened to have Melody removed from her parents’ care when they began court proceedings but backtracked after the case was raised in the press.
The family is being represented by top lawyer Charles Da Silva, who acted for the family of 11-month-old Charlie Gard – the tot who died after his parents lost a legal wrangle over his care.
Karina said:
I’d rather Melody had one more year filled with happiness than five years of pain.
It’s only now we realise how few rights we have as parents but we won’t give up. Melody can’t speak, so we are her voice.
As she screams, she points to her stomach, as if to say: ‘Why aren’t you helping me, mum’?
The family is being represented by top lawyer Charles Da Silva, who acted for the family of 11-month-old Charlie Gard, the young boy who died after his parents lost a legal wrangle over his care.
Meanwhile, Melody is still managing to smile through her brave battle.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is unable to comment on Melody’s case but says ‘all decisions taken are in our patients’ best interests’.
Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.