Holton student gets surprise visit from Taylor Swift at Children's Mercy Hospital
HOLTON (KSNT) - A 13-year-old Holton girl, fighting for her life, got the surprise of her lifetime while in the hospital.
Tinley Raaf has been at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City since the end of November. Yesterday, she was told there was a surprise waiting for her outside.
It was her idol, Taylor Swift!
27 News wasn't able to visit Tinley in person, but that didn't stop her from telling us about her experience.
"I was sitting on the mat in the gym and then Taylor came," Tinley Raaf said. "She said she saw two different kids then she saw me. And then she gave me a book and we were talking about Brock Purdy and Travis (Kelce)."
Taylor told Tinley this was one more thing for her to add to her collection of all things "Swiftie."
Tinley even got the chance to tell Taylor about her favorite song during music therapy.
"We were just talking before we even knew you were coming about her favorite song of yours," one of Tinley's team members said.
"Really?" Taylor Swift said.
"Love Story," Tinley said.
"Yes! That's a good one! Thank you," Taylor Swift responded.
But the book Taylor signed wasn't the only gift she got. Taylor got a little help from Santa on this next one, who paid Tinley a visit the day before, and it was on her Christmas list.
"Today when she was in PT, they brought a package in and it said 'If Santa doesn't come through, love Taylor Swift.' And it was a hand written note, and inside was a Dyson Air Wrap," Tonya Raaf, Tinley's mom, said.
Raaf says this was a very positive thing that happened in a very dark and scary situation, where Tinley had just woken up from a five day coma just a week prior.
If you would like to help Tinley's recovery, you can donate to her GoFundMe page by clicking here.
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