'Every child was special': Taylor Swift sends Christmas present to ...

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Taylor Swift visits Kansas City children's hospital after Eras Tour

Global superstar Taylor Swift visited Children’s Mercy Hospital where she spent time with patients, took pictures with fans and signed her new book.

Tonya and Tyler Raaf, of Holton, rushed their 13-year-old daughter Tinley to Holton Community Hospital on Nov. 29.

Tinley was extremely lethargic, had difficulty speaking and couldn't stay awake.

"When she looked at you, it was like she was looking through you," Tonya Raaf said.

Shortly after her arrival at the hospital, Tinley slipped into a coma. She was transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital in Overland Park. She was in a coma for five days before waking.

On Thursday, Tinley — a Swiftie — was one of several youths to get to meet and spend time with Taylor Swift.

"I felt good to be able to talk to her and see her," Tinley said.

Long road to recovery for Holton teenager

Tinley, an eighth-grader at Holton Middle School, was diagnosed with meningitis and encephalitis from Mycoplasma pneumoniae (community-spread pneumonia), according to a GoFundMe account set up by a friend of the Raaf family.

When Tinley woke up from her coma, her recovery and rehabilitation began. She began speaking again the next day and eating the day after that, her mother said.

For the past two weeks, Tonya Raaf has stayed at the hospital with her daughter. Tyler Raaf stayed at home to take care of their son Tye, 11, but drives the 90 minutes to Children's Mercy to visit his daughter daily.

"I mean, it's been a scary-ass roller coaster of a ride," Tyler Raaf said. "Excused my language. It's been a roller coaster, and I am super thankful and humbled for everything."

The Raaf family hopes to be home before the holidays.

What meeting Taylor Swift meant to Holton family

Swift, a 14-time Grammy winner, is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. She has become a regular attendee at Chiefs game.

During her visit to the hospital, Swift spent time with a number of children.

Swift and Tinley chatted about Tinley's favorite Chiefs players, appropriately Kelce, as well as Patrick Mahomes. Swift spent five minutes with Tinley and gave her a signed copy of her new "Eras Tour" book.

Tinley told Swift that Santa Claus had recently visited the hospital, and she told him she wanted a Dyson airwrap blow dryer for Christmas.

On Friday morning, a present wrapped in holiday paper arrived for Tinley. It was a Dyson airwrap blow dryer, with a handwritten note from Swift, which said, "T, in case Santa doesn't come through ... love, Taylor."

Tonya Raaf was overwhelmed by the gesture.

"Then to go above and beyond and provide Tinley with a gift that she obviously didn't have to, and it was a very special gift," Tonya Raaf said. "And it wasn't just an average gift. It wasn't, you know, a T-shirt or a stuffed animal. It was beyond imaginable."

Tonya Raaf said she is also a big fan of Swift and seeing her with the kids was wonderful.

"Just to see how she interacted with the kids was incredible," she said. "Just getting at their eye level, really hearing what they were saying and acting like they knew each other ... every child was special."