A tearful video of a mother and her young son watching Lewis Capaldi perform has captivated millions, prompting the singer himself to respond with heart emojis. Rachel Thomas and her 12-year-old son Noah, from Laugharne, Wales, recorded their emotional reaction during Capaldi's concert at Cardiff's Blackweir Live on June 30.
As the Scottish singer performed "The Day That I Die," Noah began crying on his mother's shoulder. The moment has since been viewed over 1.6 million times on TikTok, with users sharing their love and support for the family.
Mother's Life-Limiting Condition
Rachel, 35, lives with a chronic and incurable form of intestinal failure diagnosed nine years ago. Her condition is deteriorating, and she is determined to make the most of her time with Noah, creating lasting memories like the concert.
"The only reason I started doing TikToks were that all the special times we had together I could capture those moments, and I knew they would all be together in one place for Noah to look back on in time," Rachel said. "I never expected this moment to go so viral, but Lewis' music really does touch people's hearts."
Bond Over Music
The mother and son frequently listen to Capaldi's music together. Rachel described the live experience as "epic" and "definitely a memory of a lifetime." Noah also has a tic disorder diagnosed when he was seven, and seeing his idol—who has Tourette's and tics—helps him cope.
"We’re a massive fan of Lewis as his music really touches our hearts and we can relate to it so much," she added.
Creating Memories Amidst Struggle
After her diagnosis, Rachel decided to focus on making a lifetime of memories with her son. "My sole purpose in life now given my condition living with a life limiting illness is to create special memories together with my boy for him to cherish and hold on to forever," she said.
Rachel is hooked up to machines for 18 hours a day and has fought sepsis multiple times and experienced multiple blood clots. She receives support from the Acute Response Team in Carmarthenshire, who help with intravenous medications and fluids to optimize her health for fulfilling her dreams.
Worry for Her Son's Future
Despite her daily struggles, Rachel worries about the impact on Noah. "It hurts me so much to know the pain I'll leave behind for my son and family when I'm gone, but I want him to know he was so loved and I want him to live a full life and continue to make me proud," she said.
She praised her son's resilience: "My boy is my absolute world, he’s the most kind, caring, funny little soul and he’s had to grow up with his mum being very poorly. He’s seen things no child should ever have to see, he's always there to protect me and constantly checks on me to see if I’m ok."
Hope to Meet Capaldi
The pair hope to one day meet Lewis Capaldi to share how much his music has helped Noah. "Nobody knows what’s around the corner, life is short and you should live your life to the fullest!" Rachel said.
