In a remarkable story of gratitude and resilience, Harriet Annabelle Ward, a singer from Bristol, has embarked on a musical journey that celebrates both her recovery and the power of community. After being given just a week to live due to a serious brain tumour, Ward’s story becomes extraordinary as she uses her talents and connections to give back to the very hospital that saved her life. In 2021, Harriet Annabelle Ward was faced with a devastating diagnosis. The 31-year-old musician underwent 14 hours of difficult brain surgery to remove a tumour that had grown to more than 7cm and engulfed the entire left side of her head. The prognosis was grim: doctors told her family she only had a week left to live.
For Ward, it was a moment of intense uncertainty and fear. “They did an MRI and phoned my husband, and he said ‘she has a week left to live.’ At that point, I was all over the place,” she recalls. Yet, amid the overwhelming odds, something remarkable happened. After surgery, Ward felt an irresistible desire to return to her first love: music. With a new sense of purpose, she began to imagine a way to honour the care she had received and contribute to a cause close to her heart. Ward’s response to her experience of death was both creative and generous. Determined to express her gratitude, she conceived of a collaborative album that would not only serve as a tribute to the medical staff at Southmead Hospital but also raise funds for brain tumour research. The album, titled Bristol Music World 2024, is a collective effort featuring contributions from 22 local artists. Each artist donated a track to the project, showcasing the rich musical talent within Bristol and strengthening the city’s community
spirit. I loved everyone at the hospital and I was so grateful and thankful to everyone,” Ward explains. The heartwarming album is her way of saying “thank you” to the staff who played a key role in her recovery. The LP includes tracks from well-known local artists such as Sophia May, Mary Mina, Jethro ‘Alonestar’ Sheeran and Jah Garvey, as well as Ward’s own tracks. The cover artwork by graffiti artist Inkie adds a visual layer of local artistic flair to the project. Prior to her diagnosis, Ward had experienced a number of distressing symptoms, which were initially thought to be stress-related. Red eyes, ear infections and persistent headaches troubled her, but she didn’t realise the seriousness of her condition until she reached out for help. After contacting 111, she was immediately transferred from Bristol Royal Infirmary to Southmead Hospital, where she underwent life-saving surgery. The experience of surviving such a serious illness left a profound impact on Ward. As she began to recover, she felt a strong desire to reconnect with her musical roots. “After the operation, I felt I wanted to sing again,” she says. It was this powerful feeling of gratitude and desire to make a positive impact that inspired her to create the album. Ward’s idea to create an album to benefit brain tumour research was embraced with enthusiasm by the Bristol music community.
Musicians from across the city banded together to support her cause, contributing their time and talent to the project. The collaborative nature of the album reflects the strength of Bristol’s artistic community and its members’ willingness to support each other. Let’s just bring people together and make an amazing album,” Ward thought. The response was overwhelmingly positive. The Bristol Music World 2024 launch event, scheduled for September 26 at Mount Without, will include live performances from 20 contributing artists. The event promises to be a celebration of local talent and a tribute to the power of community spirit. For Ward, the process of creating the album has been a deeply personal journey. “Making the record has been done from the heart,” she says. The album is not just a collection of songs, but a symbol of her resilience and a testament to the support she received during her darkest times. It is also a beacon of hope for others who are facing similar challenges. Despite her ongoing recovery, Ward is actively promoting the album and preparing for its official release on October 1. The enthusiasm and dedication she has shown throughout the process is inspiring, and her efforts to raise awareness and funds for brain tumor research are admirable. While the album and its accompanying launch event represent a significant accomplishment, Ward’s journey is far from over. She continues to navigate the complexities of her recovery while balancing her new role as a music advocate. She also reflects on the challenges she has faced personally and professionally.