We’ve followed the touching story of New Jersey high school senior and cancer patient Kevin McGuire since he first asked Taylor Swift to prom via Facebook, only to remain speechless when she instead invited him to be her date to the ACM Awards. Now, just days away from the big night, McGuire is getting more and more excited, while at the same time trying to keep his expectations realistic.

Though he’s been given two weeks to be off chemotherapy, the determined teen knows he won’t be able to board that plane to Las Vegas with his family if his blood counts are low. Still, he remains enthusiastic.

“I know, it’s insane,” McGuire told the Courier Post. “I need to start packing. … I don’t even have a suitcase. That’s how delayed I am.” This is McGuire’s second battle with cancer, and while he’s technically in remission right now, he still hits rough patches. Last week, for example. he was in chemo for five days, five hours each day. And while the teen may have to consider his health beforehand, once he and his family arrive in Vegas, they won’t have to do any of the thinking — Swift has everything planned out.

The ‘Ours’ singer has arranged for a tuxedo and shoes for McGuire, in addition to paying airfare for his entire family to fly out and then putting them all up in a hotel. When Swift responded to McGuire’s request back in February, even McGuire’s grandmother became an instant fan of the country megastar with the big heart, saying, “She must be a great person to care that much for my grandson. I just bought two of her CDs.”

While the McGuire family is living it up in Las Vegas this weekend, their New Jersey community will be tuned in and cheering loudly back home when they see the inspirational young man hit the red carpet with the stars. In honor of McGuire, who used to be one of their employees, Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill in South Jersey will be donating 10 percent of their proceeds after 8PM Sunday night (April 1) to Team Kevin, and they will be playing the awards show in their 14 restaurant locations in the area.

Richeez Italian Restaurant & Tavern in Hi-Nella is also unrolling a red carpet for those close to McGuire and taking $5 donations to benefit the young cancer survivor. While the cancer-struck is still waiting to see if either of his siblings is a match to donate bone marrow to him, for this one weekend, Kevin McGuire fans across the country are hoping and praying that the teen gets to step onto that plane, head to Las Vegas and enjoy one carefree and magical evening with his dream date: Taylor Swift.

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