Taylor Swift first learned about Ronan Thompson through a blog that the young boy's mother kept about his battle against neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor of the nerve tissue. Ronan died at the age of three in 2011, and Swift credits Maya Thompson with co-writing the song, in which the 22-year-old country pop star movingly channels a mother's heartbreak and loss. Swift gave the ballad a fitting debut performance at Friday night's Stand Up To Cancer 2012 telethon, which raises funds for research into cures for the disease; After the performance, the song became available on iTunes, with all proceeds donated to the Taylor Swift Charitable Fund.
Taylor Swift Debuts ‘Ronan’ at Stand Up To Cancer Benefit
Heartbreaking ballad co-written with mother of young cancer victim