Shawn Mendes surprises Airdrie fan who missed concert to prepare for heart surgery
Though Kaley Biggar is a Shawn Mendes super-fan she wasn't able to attend his concert in Calgary on Monday.
Biggar, 14, is being treated for a life-threatening illness. She was diagnosed with a yeast infection in her blood seven weeks ago, and has been receiving aggressive antibiotic treatment to clear up the infection.
Further complicating matters, Biggar is being transferred to Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton next week. There, on July 11, she's scheduled to have open heart surgery and get a pacemaker she's had since childhood replaced.
Biggar was born with multiple, life-threatening birth defects and has had 44 surgeries. She was born with three holes in her heart and is 100 per cent feeding tube dependent.
Biggar's kidney function is declining as well, which makes the surgery even more necessary.
Kaley Biggar of Airdrie had tickets to see her idol Shawn Mendes play the Saddledome Monday, but can't go because of medical complications surrounding an upcoming open-heart surgery July 11Mendes' Calgary performance was supposed to be the teenager's first concert experience, but Biggar couldn't risk catching even a minor infection as she prepares for her heart surgery.
The teen was devestated that she had to miss the concert, but hours before he performed, Mendes surprised the Airdrie resident with a video call.
"She was so excited," said Vicky Biggar, Kaley's mom. "It definitely brought a little bit of light back into who she is."
When the moment came for the teen girl to see her idol on her iPad screen, it brought the family joy during an intensely stressful time.
In March, her father Brodie Biggar, 43, died at home after complications with COVID-19 and diabetes.
Listening to Mendes' music and watching videos of him performing was something that bonded him to his teen daughter.
Biggar repeated to CTV News on Tuesday what she told Mendes during their special call.
"I love you Shawn boy," she said.
Mendes sent Biggar an autographed hooded-sweatshirt that says "Kaley, I love you so much."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.