Taylor Swift visits young cancer patient after YouTube campaign
The 'I Knew You Were Trouble' singer met 10-year-old Lauren Hacker - who has acute myelocytic leukaemia - while she was in Omaha, Nebraska at the weekend.
Taylor Swift visits 10-year-old cancer patient
Before Hacker became ill she had been given tickets to see Swift in concert for Christmas. However, due to her stay in hospital she missed out on the show.
Her family created a YouTube video set to the singer's track 'You Belong With Me', in order to convince the star to visit her at Omaha's Children's Hospital & Medical Centre.
On Saturday afternoon (March 9), Swift spent nearly an hour with Lauren and her family, while also sharing personal stories and playing music with her young fan.
"Taylor was very impressed with both performances," father Phil said in his blog. "I don't mean 'polite impressed'. I mean 'real impressed'."
Swift also posed for photos and gave Lauren several presents before departing.
"Taylor got out a bag of goodies for Lauren and provided autographs on notebooks, photographs and guitar picks," Phil Hacker wrote.
"Finally, she signed a special autograph to Jonathan [Lauren's brother] on the front of the ukulele. It was a great afternoon for everyone and I'm sure Lauren will remember it for many years to come."
Lauren's mother LesLee Hacker wrote: "It is hard to come down off of the Taylor Swift high. I am sure [Lauren] getting to meet her idol has helped tremendously.
"Taylor is definitely good medicine. I am thrilled that L! auren chose to love someone so dear and gracious.
"I was so focused on getting Taylor to meet Lauren to put a spark in Lauren and help her fight leukaemia, but I had no idea she would inspire the whole family. She came at a perfect time for our all of us."
Taylor Swift begins her 'Red' tour on Wednesday (March 13) in Omaha, with Ed Sheeran as her support act.