Austin teen dies months after bedside concert by Florence + The Machine

                                                                                                                         KXAN

SAD NEWS: Karinya "Yaya" Chen, who famously received a bedside concert from Florence  + The Machine, lost her battle with cancer last Oct. 1.

I'm sorry I didn't report it earlier. The story and video I posted last May featuring the 15-year old bone cancer patient and her duet with Florence Welch is one of this blog's most-read entries.

Yaya was being cared for at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House when the staff learned that Yaya, a big fan of Florence + The Machine, couldn't attend a nearby concert because of her illness. That's when the staff at arranged for singer Florence Welch to put on a private show for Yaya. 

The singer dropped everything to visit Yaya at Christopher House. The video of the private performance went viral on YouTube, including a clip of Yaya and Welch singing a duet of the band’s hit “Shake It Out.” The moving video has since been viewed over 1.2 million times.

In an interview with KXAN five days before her death, Yaya said, "If you take it one day at a time and just tell yourself don’t worry and don’t take things for granted and tell yourself that you are loved and you are blessed, then it makes it a lot easier to fight.” 

'Yaya' Chen said the visit by Florence Welch was the 'best 45 minutes of my life."

A beautiful moment: A private concert for a hospice patient touches everyone

Karinya "Yaya" Chen sang along with Florence Welch

UNTIL LAST week, I wasn't much of a Florence and the Machine fan. I wasn't a fan because I didn't like their music, I'm just not familiar with them. But, I'm a fan now!

After a Thursday night concert at the Austin 360 Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, lead singer Florence Welch learned from hospice staff about the plight of a a 15-year old fan who couldn't attend the concert. 

The next day, Welch and guitarist Rob Ackroyd visited Karinya "Yaya" Chen, who was confined to her bed at nearby Hospice Austin's Christopher House where they performed a 45-minute private concert for the young hospice patient.

UPDATE: Austin teen dies

The performance hit the hearts of many at the hospice. Florence held Yaya's hand as they sang together. Her  friends joined in singing the chorus and her family taped the event.

"They brought our patient some T-shirts, a hoodie and a bag, a poster. Our patient wanted Florence to sign her arm with permanent marker so it wouldn't come off, and so Florence did," said Melinda Marble, a staff member at Hospice Austin.

It was a beautiful, touching moment that's is all too rare in world where hate and evil. "All of us were crying. All the staff were crying," Marble told KVUE. 

"There were shrieks and squeals and so much joyous music and singing and tears and tears and tears of grief and joy and hope and love and utter devastation," wrote nurse practitioner Christi Kramer on the hospice's Facebook page, "and somehow simple kindness made everything better."

If you aren't touched by this video, you have a heart of stone.