The Power of Kindness
- Rapper and singer Jason Bradley DeFord, professionally known as Jelly Roll, is being praised by his fans after footage of him stopping his concert in Michigan to help a cancer warrior get a chair to sit on was shared on social media.
- Jelly Roll’s heartfelt decision to help out a fan standing with an IV drip near the stage he was singing on was commended by TikTok users who watched the sweet video clip.
- According to an article published in the Journal of Oncology Practice and shared via the National Library of Medicine, “The wonders of high-tech cancer care are best complemented by the humanity of high-touch care.
- “Simple kindnesses can help to diffuse negative emotions that are associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment-and may even help to improve patients’ outcomes.”
- During cancer treatment, and also after, it can be hard to focus on anything except your treatment or the challenges that follow a cancer battle. Jelly Roll’s fan is a perfect example that it’s important to take a moment and focus on something that makes you genuinely happy, even if that means attending a concert with an IV drip by your side.
Rapper and singer Jason Bradley DeFord, professionally known as Jelly Roll, has been commended by fans as "the epitome of humble and kind" after he chose to stop mid-concert in Midland, Michigan, to help a fan in the audience who was attached to an IV drip. Jelly Roll was performing in front of thousands at the Tailgate N' Tallboys festival over the weekend when he noticed a young woman standing with an IV drip on the floor near the stage and decided to assist in getting her a chair. Footage of the touching moment, which was shared on
TikTok by user @lovelyfreebird, shows the 39-year-old singer-songwriter pausing his show to say, "First of all, there is a young lady right here in the front of the crowd ... where's my camera guy at? Where's my man?" Jelly Roll was then seen gesturing toward one of the members of his crew to aim a camera toward the devout fan. He continued, "I've seen a lot of crazy s**t at my shows, but this young lady is out here with a full-blown IV." https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelyfreebird/video/7396738855501729070?lang=en He then proceeded to ask if the person was a cancer survivor, prompting his fans to cheer and applaud his efforts. After asking the young woman how many others she was at the concert with, he requested someone from his crew to get the cancer warrior a chair. "Somebody on my team. Let's get her somewhere comfortable for the rest of the show. We'll get you off your feet, baby, okay?" he continued. Fans commented on the TikTok post, "And that’s why we LOVE Jelly Roll," and "We must protect this man at all costs. The world needs more of him." Another concert-goer said, "Jelly Roll is the epitome of HUMBLE AND KIND!" to which others replied, "Amen - wishing that young lady a speedy recovery."
Feeling Supported as a Cancer Warrior
Someone else said Jelly Roll "considers his fans as family," after another commented, "And the teddy bear shows again. That's one of the reasons jelly roll is loved by millions he truly cares about his fans. "Much love and respect to jelly roll and prayers to his fan." Thee praise continued when other fans chimed in the comments to say, "Thats the kind of people that deserve all the good they have stay humble [100%] respect to jelly roll" and "Awww as a cancer survivor I LOVE this! She had to be so weak but she’s there. I couldn’t have done it when I was in treatment." https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelyfreebird/video/7396731257775869230?lang=en As per the
Midland Daily News , there were approximately 15,000 people in the crowd during the weekend full of performances by Jelly Roll and his fellow country music stars, Alexandra Kay and Warren Zeiders. On Saturday, singers Tucker Wetmore, Lakeview, Matt Hansen, Jessie Murph and Quinn XCII also performed.
The Benefit of Emotional Support & Kindness
Having emotional support while going through a cancer battle is irreplaceable, just as the kindness of others is also incredibly powerful throughout adversity. Seeing Jelly Roll take some time out of his show to show support for a fan battling cancer reminds us that support can be shown in all types of ways. For those of us lucky enough to have close family members and friends by our side through tough times, we may want to pick up the phone and remind them how special they are. It's certainly sweet to see Jelly Roll's efforts to help out a fan being commended by his fans. According to an article published in the Journal of Oncology Practice and shared via the
National Library of Medicine , "The wonders of high-tech cancer care are best complemented by the humanity of high-touch care. "Simple kindnesses can help to diffuse negative emotions that are associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment-and may even help to improve patients' outcomes." The abstract suggests that based on their research and cancer care, they propose the following types of kindness in in cancer care: deep listening, empathy, generous acts of discretionary effort, timely care, gentle honesty, and support.
RELATED: "I'll Hand You to Pam"How One Breast Cancer Survivor Became a Support System for So Many Remember, going through cancer can be difficult at almost every stage and so understanding how to mange the flood of emotions that come with diagnosis and treatment is important.
Sarah Stapleton explains how social workers help after a cancer diagnosis Whether or not you have a support system at home, it may be a good idea to seek counseling when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Often you can find a social worker through your cancer center, and they can help you through this process. It’s exceptionally important to remember to take care of your mental health, as well as your physical. Social worker
Sarah Stapleton suggests doing two to three counseling sessions before making the decision if it is, or isn’t, right for you. Going to counseling with a spouse, friend, or family member can be equally, if not even more, beneficial.
Helping Others & Starting Over After a Life Changing Event
Perhaps Jelly Rolls' warm-heartedness toward others has something to do with the country singer's father-in-law's battle with stage four cancer.
RELATED: Country Singer Jelly Roll’s Newly “Bionic” Father-In-Law Who’s Battling Stage 4, Reportedly ‘Healing’ After Hip Surgery The Tennessee native—who married his wife Bunnie Xo (Allysa DeFord) back in 2016, has two kids from earlier relationships, and supported his late father-in-law’s stage four cancer battle—recently opened up about him and his wife's in vitro fertilization journey (IVF) and his personal goal of getting more fit both physically and mentally.
RELATED: Rapper Turned Country Singer Jelly Roll, 39, and Wife, Bunnie XO, 44, are Starting Their IVF Journey & Striving to be Healthier: ‘I Just Want to Feel Good’ Whether you're someone who has battled cancer, or someone who has been a caretaker to others, it's important to be aware that starting over after a diagnosis is arduous, but it can be done. Here’s how:
- Examine your thoughts. Take time to reflect on the tragedy or difficulty you are facing. Dr. Scott Irwin tells SurvivorNet that, often, people with cancer and chronic disease are “grieving the change in their life, the future they had imagined is now different.”
- Seek help. Irwin, who directs Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, adds that talk therapy can help people significantly: “It’s about meeting the individual patient where they are and their feelings, how they’ve always dealt with their body image, what the body image changes mean now in their lives and their relationships, and how they can move forward given the new reality.
- Realize that you are not the first. Study the lives of other people who have faced similar difficulties. Dr. Samantha Boardman tells SurvivorNet , “Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.” She adds there is also a benefit in “talking to those who’ve, you know, been through this process, who are maybe a couple of steps ahead of you, who can tell you what it’s like to walk in their shoes and the unbelievable wisdom that one can gain from speaking to them.”
- Visualize the future. Imagine what it will look like for you to start over. Many people find it very helpful to create a vision board. Cut out pictures or quotes or mementos that give you a concrete picture of your future. Look to it when you are feeling down or in need of a lift. The good news? It works.
WATCH: Defining and Building Resilience Do What You Love During & After Cancer
During cancer treatment, and also after, it can be hard to
focus on anything except your treatment or the challenges that follow a cancer battle. However, Jelly Roll's fan is a perfect example that it’s important to take a moment and focus on something that makes you genuinely happy, even if that means attending a concert with friends or family. Experts recommend you try to take some time out of your day a few times a week and really enjoy those special pockets of joy. “We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,”
Dr. Dana Chase , a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, previously told SurvivorNet. “So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
Dr. Dana Chase Encourages Those Facing Cancer to Find Moments of Joy During Treatment Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff 
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