Sister's Heartbreaking TikTok Video Leads To Epic Birthday Party Surprise

- Welcome back! I'm here with Kelsea Ballerini and Topher Grace. (Audience applauding) It's a reality, everyone fights, and if they say no, they're a liar. And when it happens, we often feel alone in the world, and my next guest understands this very well. She's a Tennessee native, like Kelsea, and this summer she posted a

heartbreaking

video

on TikTok about a

birthday

party

she was planning for her little

sister

. Have a look. -If a boy in her son's class hands out

birthday

invitations, she just comes. My little

sister

turns eight tomorrow. Her birthday

party

is this weekend. Our mom died of brain cancer 83 days ago.

One, a boy from her class confirmed her attendance. I haven't even told him that. At the end of the day, that shouldn't be me. It should be our mom, my mom should be doing this. My mom is not here! - Wow! Every time the

video

destroys me, every time. The video was shared widely and what happened next should remind us all that we are never truly alone. We'll get to that a little later, but first meet Chloe, who created TikTok. (Audience applauds) So, this is Topher, this is Kelsea. - Nice to meet you. - I know you are also trying to fight it, I see it in your eyes, it is difficult.

Court! So we are all very sorry for the loss of her. There are no words that can say more than that. So first of all, I'm so sorry for your loss. But tell us about your mom. - My mom was amazing. She was a really magnetic person. She is the kind of person everyone gravitates towards. She had me when she was 21, so it was always just me and her. And she was kind of a mother that, even though she was a single mother, which is a feat in itself, she was at every PTA meeting, she was a volunteer and she was always there.

She taught me, more than anything, that you don't have to be just one thing in life. Not everything is said and done. You choose what your career will be. You can be so many things. - Yes. - And she really gave me that. But the most surprising thing is probably that I was 16 when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. And again, it was just her and me. So getting over that was a little difficult. She had really serious brain surgery, she had radiation, she learned to walk again, she learned to talk again. And then, just like her, she recovered from it, as if it had never happened.

And she returned to normal life. Well, that was a strange obstacle in life. And if. -So she, she got over that, and when I was 20 she met someone, and she had my little sister. So I was a little, I was a little- (laughs) - Yeah, yeah. (laughs) - It took me a while to get to the other side of that. - I was a little- yeah. - I'm 20 years old, I'm in college and my mother was pregnant. - Yes. - That was interesting. But the moment I met her. I was there when she was born, and the moment I met her changed my life. - Yeah. - She changed me, and that was probably the best moment of my life, so. -So, when did your mom's cancer come back? -So, she actually came back four times.

Then she, 11 years from now, got sick again and they would do major surgery and they would do radiation, they would do chemotherapy, they would do... What a fighter! - Both at the same time. And, each time, she became a pattern in life, strangely, that you got used to. You know, if you think she's normal, she becomes normal. So, okay, mom gets sick, mom does the same thing, gets better, and just recovers, and that's how it is. But in November we knew it was different. Her health was not recovering and that's when we knew we were reaching the end. - That brings us back to the video.

So what was going on when you did it? -So, our mom ended up passing away in April of this year. And obviously, she had always promised him, because she and Charlotte's father had separated, that she was going to do everything in my power to raise Charlotte as if she were mine and give her the childhood that she gave me. Include her in the kinds of things she included me in and teach her the same values. And I kept that promise. And when my mom passed away, Charlotte became a full-time part of our family and changed schools.

So, obviously it's a huge transition... - Yes. - To make when you're losing your mom. And she lost a lot of her original friends, and I made sure to send invitations to those new friends, to that new class, to tell them about her upcoming birthday in July. And yes, a girl confirmed her attendance at her party. - What, I'm a mom and you throw parties, and I, even my daughter's last daughter, was crazy, because I thought, are people responding? They will come? You know, because your son gets very excited. They get very excited. It's such a magical day, they feel so special and I just can't, I can't imagine that.

Did you ever have a problem when you were a child? Because I was the kid too, I was kind of like, I know everyone thinks I was probably very outgoing but, again, I wasn't. And I didn't have a central couple of friends, but I didn't have big parties growing up like that, or anything like that. Did you all have that growing up? Did you have that kind of...? No, mine was mainly family and a partner, a couple of close friends. - Yes. - Yes. - I was tremendously unpopular, but I didn't have this kind of situation, I can't imagine. -So Chloe, what happened after you posted the video? - I woke up the next morning and went on TikTok expecting to see, you know, it's always going to be a little bit ugly, a little bit cool.

But it was overwhelmingly surprising. Every inbox on every social media platform was filled with people asking, “How can we help?” Or telling me, "Oh, I've already contacted so-and-so and found out what city you live in, and we've already found ways to help. Can you give me your personal number so we can make this happen?" Your birthday?" - And (laughs), they were just asking, "What can we do?" - Were you crying? - (laughs) It was! Yes! - I would have just been crying. I... - Yes, - Because sometimes, you know, we are shown that the world can be shit sometimes, and that people can be very uncool and cruel, and then something like this happens and it's magical. the party?

What did it end up like? - I basically started saying yes. I'm like, do you want to help? - Yeah, bring them. yeah. - So, I was giving out my personal address- (Kelly laughs) - Doing everything I could so, the first thing that happened was I got in touch, this woman named Taylor actually found me and connected with me, and she connected with me. He said: "I have a girl Charlotte's age. Can I bring it? Can I help?" Do you decorate?" And another woman, Abby, said, "I'll go and decorate at the same time, too." And a woman named Cindy set up all these giant balloon garlands and balloon-filled numbers.

And this woman named Libby actually came from Oxford, Mississippi, with her horse, Miss Gracie, who she put glitter all over... Oh! -And pompoms, and she brought it and all the children were able to go on pony rides. Then, this Jeep line appeared. There were about 30 jeeps full of people who would just drive by and give him gifts, and come out and sing his happy birthday songs. There was also a woman named Alyssa- - Oh my God! - From Caden's bugs. And she brought these like giant pythons. (laughs) - Yes. - And lizards. And the kids did this as a big thing, like an exhibit, essentially, where they learned about reptiles and got to hold them.

And Charlotte's face, throughout it all. She was stunned, absolutely stunned...-Yes.-Obviously. This is also her first birthday party. Our mom, when you have a parent who is in and out of chemotherapy and during a pandemic, you don't necessarily have the energy or time that other parents have, so this was her first party. - Or, from a health point of view, you're not supposed to be around people. You get sick very easily. - Yes Yes. - Oh my God. I did it? I've never had a party like that. (laughs) (Chloe laughs) - Wait, I know. My only question is: what are you doing next year? (laughs) (Kelsea laughs) - I set the bar. (laughs) - I know!

I thought: the bar has already been set! I was like... It's a little high, it's a little high. Yes. - It's so good. Well, Taylor, in our hearing, was one of the helpers. So Taylor, what made you reach out? -So when I saw the video for the first time, he broke my heart. Because, like she said, I have a daughter who is the same age as Charlotte and I believe that every child should feel special and loved, especially on her birthday. So I reached out to see if we could come, and even if we were the only ones there, we would do great.

But then the whole Memphis community showed up and it was just incredible, all day. I simply mean tossing and turning all day long. In fact, we've had play dates since then, we've become very good friends and we plan to keep that friendship and... Yes. - Charlotte and Audrey, my daughter, get along great. It has been a blessing to know her and her entire family. - Oh, what a beautiful ending! (The audience applauds) I love it too, like you, you didn't know her! But you said, look, we don't have to meet people. You know what I'm talking?

There's no need. You can say, "God, I understand. I empathize with what's happening here because I realized how devastating it is." Like when, anyway... Okay, okay... I think it's time to meet the birthday girl, because I'm going to hug her, she's going to feel uncomfortable. Charlotte, come out! (laughs) (Audience applauding) - (Laughter) My God. I'm glad to see you! (Audience continues applauding) Oh, you're so cute! Say hello to Kelsea and Topher! - Hello! - Can I hug you? - Yes. - Oh my God! - Pleased to meet you! - What's up! Pleased to meet you! - You look so beautiful with your, with your, your pretty little skirt. - Are you going to come sit down? - Oh my God, take a seat.

My God, Charlotte. First of all, it's like you and Kelsea are calling each other with this color palette. - Yes. (Chloe laughs) - But I have to ask... - Can I join the family? (laughs) - (laughs) Yes, because your birthday looked amazing! I want a birthday like this, was it so much fun? Which was your favorite part? - My favorite part was meeting all those people and making new friends. (audience applauds) - Oh, that's amazing. My God, your smile is my son's smile right now. (Chloe and Charlotte laugh) He lost the same tooth a couple of days ago and I'm like, he's so cute. (Chloe and Charlotte laugh) Oh well, we want you to be able to make even more amazing memories.

So, we're sending you on a family vacation to enjoy an inclusive four-night, five-day luxury vacation to the beaches of Turks and Caicos. Is incredible. (Audience applause) This incredible all-inclusive resort features gorgeous villages, numerous gourmet restaurants, and beautiful sandcastle beaches. A variety of activities for children of all ages and endless fun and memories for everyone. You're going to love it. It is the most beautiful place that has ever existed. (Chloe laughs) I hope you have a lot of fun and make some friends there. You are so beautiful. - Thank you. - Oh my God.