Testing It Up

Early this year, high school senior Kevin McGuire asked singer Taylor Swift to be his prom date. McGuire was first diagnosed with leukemia when he was 13, and is currently battling the disease the second time around, after being declared cancer-free in 2010.

Unfortunately, Taylor was unavailable for the teen’s prom, although she gave a rather attractive alternative: “Kevin, I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to make it to your prom… But I was wondering, the (Academy of Country Music) Awards are coming up … Would you be my date? Love, Taylor.”

Not surprisingly, Kevin appreciated the singer’s gesture and accepted her invitation.

Unfortunately, the 18-year-old was unable to keep his date with Taylor, as he was hospitalized prior to the Awards show, held on Sunday. McGuire’s sister Victoria wrote: “I am so sorry to announce this devastating news, but Kevin was admitted to the hospital last night, and is unable to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards with Taylor Swift.”

Victoria shared further that her brother had a 103-degree fever, and was undergoing intense chemotherapy. It was Victoria who set up the Facebook page “Taylor Swift take KEVIN MCGUIRE TO PROM,” which successfully caught the singer’s attention.

Taylor, however, is not giving up on spending time with Kevin just yet. She tweeted the following message on Saturday: “Just talked to Kevin McGuire… He’s not well enough to join me at the ACMs. Please keep him in your thoughts. I’ll make it up to you, Kevin!”

Taylor Swift will have an extra-special date to this year’s Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards: a young man battling cancer.

Kevin McGuire, an 18-year-old varsity football player from New Jersey, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 13. He had been in remission since 2010, but recently suffered a relapse. His big sister, Tori, came up with the idea of asking Taylor to go to the Sterling High School prom in Somerdale, New Jersey, and started the Facebook page “Taylor Swift Take Kevin McGuire To Prom!” to make that happen.

Tori wrote: “Kevin is the kindest, most noble 18 year old a person could even fathom meeting, and throughout his ups and downs Kevin never even questioned ” why me?” Nothing, and I mean nothing brightens Kevin’s day more than Taylor Swift. Kevin deserves more than anyone a special event in his life.. and the one thing he wants is to go to prom with Taylor Swift!”

Tori also mentioned that, incidentally, the prom falls on Kevin’s birthday.

Unfortunately, Taylor was unavailable for Kevin’s prom in June – but boy, did she come up with a wonderful alternative! Taylor wrote the following on Facebook: “Kevin, I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to make it to your prom… But I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up. Would you be my date? Love, Taylor.”

To that invitation, Kevin responded by saying: “I don’t know what else to say, I was just trying not to throw up! I have cancer. Cancer doesn’t have me. Taylor, I would love to go with you.”

Kevin is currently undergoing treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The ACM Awards is set for April 1st.