Syracuse native Post Malone met with a local “superfan” who credits the musician with helping with his recovery from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage.
Garrett Belanger got to meet the “Chemical” singer-rapper after his July 17 concert Darien Lake Amphitheater near Buffalo, according to Garett’s sister, Taylor Belanger. Malone gave Garrett a big hug and posed for photos together.
“How are you dude? Hanging out?” Posty asked Garrett in a TikTok video posted by Taylor, who lives in Liverpool.
Malone also showed his support for Garrett by wearing a “Garrett’s Army” T-shirt that the Belanger family made for him.
“G finally met the man himself! Post was an absolute dream, so kind and so genuine. One of the [best] nights of our lives- G is still smiling!” Taylor wrote on TikTok. “The most special night ever.”
@taylortheteacher0131 He even wore the Garrett’s Army shirt we made for him. The most special night ever ❤️#fy #fyp #foryoupage #foryoupages #tbisurvivor #garrettstrong #coma #foryourpage #postmalone #foryou ♬ Wow. - Post Malone
According to a GoFundMe page raising money for Garrett’s care, he was 21 years old when he suffered a spontaneous brain hemorrhage in May 2022 due to a brain malformation called an AVM. He spent 8 weeks in the ICU at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse and then transferred to Sunnyview Rehab Hospital in Schenectady for treatment.
People magazine reports Taylor first got Post Malone’s attention when TikTok videos of her brother listening to the Grammy-nominated hitmaker’s music during rehab treatments went viral.
“Thank you for the support,” Malone responded in a video last year. “Keep kickin’ ass, dude I can’t wait to meet you man, whenever you’re ready to rock and roll, I’m ready.”
Malone, who was born Austin Richard Post in Syracuse, lived in the Central New York area until he was 10, when his family moved to Texas. He currently lives in Utah, and his family still owns a home in Baldwinsville.
Garrett and Taylor’s mother, Gretchen Belanger, said she had to hold Garrett’s eyes open so he could watch the video. Garrett’s eyes lit up and he smiled his biggest smile in nearly three months.
He finally got to meet his favorite artist a year later, but Garrett’s recovery continues.
According to Taylor, Garrett has been home since last August but is still unable to speak and has limited control of his body movements. He goes to therapy 4-5 weeks and is getting stronger, though he still gets admitted to the hospital frequently due to aspiration.
“My mom has taken a leave of absence from work in order to keep Garrett at home. We are working tirelessly to ensure that Garrett and my family get everything they need to make this process easier... or as easy as a situation like this can be,” Taylor wrote on GoFundMe. “Garrett’s Army reaches far and wide, and we are so thankful for all of the prayers, support, and love you have all given us!”