Annaliese Holland shares Coldplay concert with Adelaide widow

A terminally ill woman will share her final concert – at global megastars Coldplay’s Melbourne show – with a widow whose husband also had a special bond with the band.

A terminally ill Adelaide woman will live out her dying wish of seeing her favourite band Coldplay beside a perfect stranger who shares a special bond with the megastars.

Onkaparinga Hills woman Annaliese Holland, 24, will be joined by her mum and sisters, and St Peters woman Susie Ryan, in Melbourne tonight for what will be the young woman’s final concert.

It followed an emotional appeal on Adelaide’s Mix102.3 Max and Ali breakfast segment to find a worthy recipient of the ticket Ms Holland had when her dad couldn’t attend the show.

Ms Holland has spent most of her 24 years battling auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG), a terminal illness which attacks her nervous system and shuts down her organs.

She first saw Coldplay soon after being diagnosed when she was 15, and never dreamt she would see them live again.

Advocate, fighter, battler and generous spirit Annaliese Holland Picture: Matt Loxton

Annaliese Holland, who was diagnosed with auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy, has been told she is terminal. Pictures: Supplied

Ms Holland’s sentimental attachment to the band also stems from her bond with dear friend Lily Thai who had the same condition – AAG – and who she met while in hospice respite care.

Lily became one of the youngest people to end her life through voluntary assisted dying legislation in June last year.

Universe, by Coldplay, became the pair’s “song” and was also played at Lily’s funeral after Ms Holland made a pinky promise to never forget her friend.

“Every time we hear it we know she is with us,” Ms Holland wrote in to Mix102.3.

Chris Martin of Coldplay. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

“So to hear this will be emotional.”

In a heartfelt twist, Mrs Ryan – who will use flight credits to get to Melbourne for the concert – revealed on Mix102.3 her husband died a few years ago and Coldplay was his favourite band.

“My husband had the possible genetics for Huntington’s disease and I wish that his two brothers who passed as little ones had taken it to their graves,” she said.

“But unfortunately Pete at 55 was diagnosed with Huntington’s. I went through that journey with him as did our four daughters and he loved Coldplay and he introduced us to them.

“He loved their music and it was one thing that helped him keep going and his attitude to life was similar to yours in that it became really positive.”

Pete died in January 2022, and Susie has since moved to a new home in St Peter’s – the first home she has had without him.

“When he died I used to play all day long his iPod and then it died and I freaked out,” Mrs Ryan said.

The pair will meet in Melbourne tonight for the Coldplay concert.