Priestley, who had been battling cystic fibrosis since childhood, passed away minutes after receiving the call, reports Independent.ie. Sheeran sang the 15-year-old's favorite song, "Little Bird," as she listened on.
This touching exchange was made possible by a Twitter campaign. When Priestley's health took a dramatic turn earlier in the week, family and friends logged on and posted Tweets directed at Sheeran with the hashtag #SongForTri. By Sunday night the hashtag was trending on Twitter, with thousands of users trying to contact the singer.
Soon after #SongForTri became popular, Sheeran's management contacted Priestley's friend Lucy Hanlon to arrange a call between the girl and her idol.
"Ed rang Triona and personally sang Little Bird to her as she took her last breaths," Hanlon wrote on Facebook, according to the Daily Mail. "Triona left us listening to her idol surrounded by all the people who loved her. People's respect is incredible. We would like to thank everyone."
After a long fight with her illness, Priestley passed in the company of her loved ones following the serenade. Upon hearing the news, Sheeran Tweeted in memory of the 15-year-old and the impression she left on him.
Rest in peace Triona, so heartbreaking x
— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) April 1, 2014
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