[With ARMY ⑥] "BTS Is My Life": Through Cancer and Loss

This story is part of the With ARMY series, in which K-POPIT meets BTS fans across London.

[London, UK] "BTS is my life." That is how Carmela, a 58-year-old fan from Switzerland, described what the group means to her.

Carmela was standing outside Soom, a restaurant in London tied to the BTS "THE CITY" project, when she said it. She wore a deep purple top and a pair of pants decorated with gold pins arranged to spell "JK," the initials of member Jungkook. Her love for the group was clear at a glance.

For Carmela, BTS became a support system during the hardest stretch of her life.

"I went through cancer treatment, and my husband passed away," she said. "BTS gave me the strength to get through that time." She added that the members' warm words and actions became a source of comfort and hope.

Carmela flew into London the day before the concert and planned to stay in the Tottenham area for three days. She was making time for the "THE CITY" project as well as the shows. ""I came here yesterday and loved it, so I came back again today," she said.

BTS also gave Carmela new friendships. Her group of fans ranged from women in their 30s to Carmela at 58. When she stayed outside for the interview, her friends came looking for her, waited until she was done, then walked in with her. The bond crossed generations.

"We first met online through BTS," one of her friends said. "We live near each other now and stay in touch all the time." The dinner reservation that night had been handled by another friend Carmela met through the fandom. The connections BTS created were reaching beyond the concert venue and into everyday life.