The Hutchison boy has spent the last eight months in and out of the hospital undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. His father, Javier, shared that Gael has undergone 36 radiation treatments and six months of chemotherapy. He also described Thursday as a wonderful day.

“I don’t have too much information her, and when my son, he seen her, he’s surprised,” said Javier. “Very, very happy.”

The family owns Los Mariachis Taqueria, a food truck in Hutchinson, and shared photos of Taylor and Gael on their Facebook page, with this message, “Today we are very happy and grateful to all our mariachis taqueria clients for being with us in a very difficult process, but with all your prayers we are very happy because my son Gael is in his last treatment we had a very important visit today Taylor Swift.”

Gael was one of several children Swift visited with on Thursday, just a day before her 35th birthday. The superstar surprised children and their families, specifically on the hematology and oncology floor. Hospital staff said Swift spent at least an hour with the children, singing to them and with them.