Taylor Swift gave a major shout out to her planned 2012 ACM Awards date Kevin McGuire, who had to miss out on accompanying the singer to the ceremony in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the New Jersey teen came down with a fever and had a low blood count, forcing him to decline her invitation on Saturday after he initially accepted. While he didn’t attend, he still watched the event on TV.

McGuire, a Southern New Jersey teen, is battling leukemia. Earlier this winter, his sister mounted a Facebook campaign to get his dream date Taylor Swift’s attention so she could attend McGuire’s prom with him. Scheduling conflicts interrupted such plans — as well as the fact that at 22, Swift is too old to attend, per the school’s policy of capping dates at 20 –  so she instead invited McGuire to the ACMs.

It was a dream come true that was dashed, until the ‘Love Story’ songstress gave him a huge and heartfelt shoutout during her acceptance speech for Entertainer of the Year. According to USA Today, McGuire was holed up at a local Applebee’s during the ceremony he was supposed to attend, noshing on a burger and fries after a tough week.

“After a couple of days in the hospital, I always feel kind of tired, but I feel a lot better than I did last night,” the ill teen said. “I had a fever and low blood counts. They’re still pretty low. I’m trying to stay away from people.” Instead of sitting at home and sulking, which would be well within his rights given all he is going through, he went out for a bite with pals and family, who also got a shoutout from Swift.

We tip our hats to Swift, who is such a class act for remembering Kevin McGuire in a dark period while accepting her award for ACM Entertainer of the Year. That had to be some sort of salve to soothe the sting of McGuire having to stay home. It’s the next best thing — and as she promised, she’ll make it up to him.

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