He Caught Taylor Swift's Broken Heel During Eras Tour Concert in Brazil. What Happened Next Changed His Family's Future (Exclusive)

• Felipe Conrado has been a devoted fan of Taylor Swift for over 13 years
• Just weeks before the communications manager attended the third and final Eras Tour show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, his cousin Angela, 37, was diagnosed with cancer
• During the concert, Conrado caught a part of Swift’s shoe that had fallen off, and decided to sell it to pay for his cousin’s treatment
• Now, months later, he told PEOPLE that his cousin finished treatment in September, and thanks to a donation from Christian Louboutin, he was able to keep the shoe

Felipe Conrado has been a devoted fan of Taylor Swift for over 13 years. So, when the singer-songwriter announced that she would bring The Eras Tour to his home country, Brazil, he took the opportunity to attend. However, Conrado, 33, had no idea how life-changing the experience would be – not just for him, but for his entire family.

Just weeks before Conrado, a communications manager, attended the third and final fashion show in Rio de Janeiro, his cousin Angela, 37, was diagnosed with cancer. Initially, her health insurance promised to cover the treatment. But after the first month of chemotherapy, Angela was hit with an unexpectedly high bill — a bill the family simply couldn’t afford.

“She appealed to the government, but our health care system only covers more advanced cases,” he told PEOPLE exclusively. “In this situation, she took legal action to find a solution, and in the meantime, the family got together with the goal of raising enough money for at least the first few months [of treatment]which required weeks of hard work.”

But now, months later, Conrado says his cousin finished her treatment in September — thanks, in part, to Swiftie’s luck.

Felipe Conrado on the Eras Tour.

Felipe Conrado

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While sitting front row on the Eras Tour, Conrado noticed Taylor Swift squatting on stage. Although he could tell something was wrong, he couldn’t immediately figure out what it was.

At first he thought she had tripped or something had gone wrong on stage. Then he saw her turn to where he was sitting, right in front of him, and throw something in his direction.

“I had no idea what it was, but my instinct was: RAISE YOUR HAND AND CATCH IT!” he recalls. “Then I noticed her right Louboutin boot Lover age [look] it lands perfectly in my hands in the air. It took me a few seconds to realize what I had caught, and the people around me were also in shock.”

Felipe Conrado holds part of Taylor Swift’s shoe.

Felipe Conrado

“I quickly put the shoe in the bag I was carrying and only after looking at that great piece did I realize: I had just received a historical item from the original Eras Tour wardrobe,” he adds. “I am still speechless today.”

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Taylor Swift had a wardrobe malfunction in heels during the Brazilian fashion show in Rio de Janeiro

Despite his excitement at capturing such an iconic memento, shortly after securing the fifth, Conrado realized he could probably sell it to help raise funds for his cousin’s treatment. After sharing his plan on social media, he faced criticism, but soon his phone was flooded with messages from people offering to help.

One Swiftie in particular, Andrea Rumsey, reached out to find out more about the situation. She translated Conrad’s post into English and mobilized hundreds of other Swiftys through a movement called #KeepPeta. While they wanted to support Conrad’s cousin, he says they didn’t want him to have to give up his heel because of it.

“The #KeepPeta movement is something that absolutely took me by surprise,” he says. “I knew a lot of fans would hear about the story because it was so unexpected, involving the greatest artist of our generation, but it filled me with happiness to see fans mobilize to make what I’m sure I didn’t have to give up something so unique because of a difficult situation.”

“It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture, aimed at helping my cousin and keeping Taylor’s gift in the hands of the fan who caught it,” he adds. “I am deeply grateful to every fan who has joined and supported this movement.”

Close-up of Felipe Conrad holding Taylor Swift’s shoe.

Felipe Conrado

Eventually, the posts on social media reached Christian Louboutin himself, who sent Conrad a handwritten letter saying he was moved and touched by the story and would like to help pay for his cousin’s medical expenses. The native Brazilian says that when he first read the letter, “he had no other reaction than tears of joy.”

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that something like this could happen,” says Conrado. “The first thing I did was to call my cousin who was crying from happiness and emotion. We are extremely grateful to him for his gesture because he brought light and hope at a time when the disease itself was already such a challenge.”

“It was a beautiful and emotional ending to the story,” he continues. – That heel came into our family at just the right moment!

Felipe Conrado smiling at the Eras Tour.

Felipe Conrado

Since finishing treatment in September, Conrado says his cousin is doing well and is forever grateful.

“In this Cinderella-like metaphor, having your heel [brings] such a great emotion,” says Conrado. “Who knows, maybe one day I’ll have the chance to meet her and thank her for the surprise that changed my family’s life!”

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Source: HIS Education