Hey, Taylor Swift, thank you for making an Ashland mom cry tears of joy on Mother's Day by meeting her son, whom you inspired to walk.

Luke Hogan Laurenson, 13, was born with cerebral palsy and although he's been listening to your songs forever, your "Shake It Off" got him up from his wheelchair and dancing to your beat last year.

SHAKE IT OFF FOR LUKE SHAKE IT OFF FOR LUKE Please l Support l Donate l Share @ https://www.gofundme.com/shake-it-off-for-luke #ShakeItOffForLuke #AshlandOregon #AshlandFire Posted by Gabriel Al-Rifai on Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Incredible, right? Don't believe me. Ask the Ashland firefighters who saw it happen. Or just

.

Doctors told Luke's mom that walking for him was not possible, let along dancing. He shook it off.

Your song became his personal anthem. He first started swaying to it while sitting on the floor. Then he found the strength to bounce a little on his knees. In December 2016, the brave boy born with dystonic quadriplegia cerebral palsy walked a few steps.

And in January 2017, he danced for the very first time all by himself.

Having the independence to do these things on his own has improved his self esteem, said his mom, Jane Hogan. If he's having a bad day or a setback, she said, he reminds himself to shake it off.

Jane Hogan said Luke had been deprived of oxygen before or during his birth. His damaged nervous system can't produce the relaxation neurotransmitter GABA. Your music helps him manage his stress.

Luke, a seventh grader at Ashland Middle School, is like many of your fans. He has your posters, calendars and birthday-gift DVDs. But his one dream was to meet you. And he did.

As his mom explained, "In the wee hours of the morning on Mother's Day, my heart-filled boy met his idol Taylor Swift, thanks to the Dream Factory of Oregon," a group that grants wishes to critically and chronically ill children like Luke.

The nonprofit and others made it possible for Luke, his mom and his big sister, Julia Hogan Laurenson, to attend your concert in Santa Clara, California on Saturday, May 12. Luke and his sister were also invited to share a private booth with your parents, Andrea and Scott Swift.

After the show, Luke and his family were waiting with two dozen of your fans in what you call the Rep Room (an ode to your Reputation Tour). When you arrived, you greeted Luke with the words: "My mom says I will love you!" You knelt down to be face-to-face with him as he sat in his wheelchair and you sweetly asked if you could put your arm around him.

"What a profound gift this will be for both my children as they move forward in their lives," Jane Hogan posted on her Facebook page. "They now know deep in their bones that #DreamsComeTrue."

Kasi Grzebielski of the Dream Factory of Oregon, said, "We were nervous about it happening, then we were thrilled that it wasn't just a 'shake your hand and move on' moment, but a very special meeting."

Later, Jane Hogan said, "Meeting Taylor Swift and having her be so incredibly nice to Luke will likely have a pretty profound impact on him."

This year is challenging for Luke, since he continues to need medical treatments. He and his mom drive to the San Francisco area every other month. He has homework, too. "He has had to emphasize his academics much more this year, so it's impacted him a bit physically," said his mom.

To help out, actors just released a fun, fundraiser video titled "Oregon Shakespeare Festival Shake It Off for Luke."

The video is posted on the fundraising site You Caring to raise money to pay for uninsured medical expenses including a mini robot to help feed him.

Luke's mom wrote on the You Caring campaign page: "Truthfully, I would rather do almost anything in the world other than ask for help. But I have an amazing son who has shown that his brain can heal."

So far, the campaign has raised almost half of its $34,000 goal.

Social experts estimate that each time his video is shared, it could raise $37 for his treatments.

Taylor Nation, can you help share?

Family friend Gabriel Al-Rifai volunteered to create the video shot at the fire station and on the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Allen Elizabethan stage. In the videos, firefighters, actors and kids are dancing with Luke to your lyrics:

I never miss a beat, I'm lightning on my feet

I'm dancing on my own, I make the moves up as I go

It's like I got this music in my mind

Saying it's gonna be alright

— Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman



