Cancer-stricken NJ teen to miss date with Taylor Swift - USA TODAY

CHERRY HILL, N.J. – In his second bout with cancer, 18-year-old Kevin McGuire won over the Internet and Taylor Swift.

By Sandra Mu, Getty Images

Taylor Swift performs March 18 at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.

By Sandra Mu, Getty Images

Taylor Swift performs March 18 at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.

Now the fickle fight will keep the high school senior from Stratford, N.J., from accompanying the superstar to Sunday night's Academy of Country Music Awards.

Hours after being in "great spirits" Thursday, and a day before his planned departure to Las Vegas for the show, McGuire was dealt a 103-degree fever and taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, according to his mother, Vicki McGuire.

He remained in the hospital Saturday, and his sister Victoria posted this message on the "Taylor Swift take KEVIN MCGUIRE TO PROM!" Facebook page:

"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. … We appreciate everything you have done for us, and we know you are all hurt from this too. … Please continue to pray for Kevin and his health, because that is the most important thing. As for Taylor, she is just as depressed as all of us to miss out on this date, and we are so thankful for the opportunity she has given us."

A call to Swift's publicist, Paula Erickson, was not returned as of Friday evening.

It was at this Philadelphia hospital where Kevin McGuire and his older sister Victoria drew the sympathies of thousands through the creation of the Facebook page "Taylor Swift take KEVIN MCGUIRE TO PROM!"

The page has more than 128,000 followers, including Swift, who responded to Kevin on her Facebook page:

"Kevin, I'm so sorry but I won't be able to make it to your prom," the singer wrote. "But I was wondering, the (Academy of Country Music) Awards are coming up … Would you be my date? Love, Taylor."

McGuire, who was first diagnosed with cancer as a 13-year-old, thought he had defeated the illness in 2010. Though his health has taken a turn for the worse, his attitude remains positive, his mother said.

"He said to me, 'Well, how many people get to say they turned down Taylor Swift?' " said Vicki McGuire with a small laugh.

Though his cancer has been in remission, Kevin McGuire — who last spoke with the Courier-Post Thursday afternoon — said he was coming off his most intense week of chemotherapy ever: five days of radiation, five hours each.

McGuire's cousin Nicole Durand said the 25 hours of chemotherapy had weakened his immune system, preventing room visits for much of this week.

"His immune system is compromised," the Somerdale resident said.

Fever aside, counts of blood cells and hemoglobin need to be strong for McGuire to make Saturday's 2,500-mile trip to Las Vegas, site of the Academy of Country Music Awards, Kevin McGuire said Thursday.

"I am excited," McGuire said Thursday, "but I'm trying to prepare myself in case my counts are too low."

McGuire has been cautious leading up to the event, declining a visit to the mall for fear of getting sick and even making sure doctors had washed their hands before visiting him, his mother said.

McGuire told the Courier-Post Thursday afternoon: "I've been living day by day, but mainly this past couple weeks I've been doing the best I can to not get sick, or mess up. I'm still kind of living in the moment and the best I can for Taylor."

The 22-year-old Swift had provided for McGuire to have a tuxedo and shoes, airfare for him and his family, and hotel accommodations to attend the awards show.

The country music event's reigning Entertainer of the Year, Swift is scheduled to present an award and is nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.

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