Photo: (Gossip.com)

Taylor Swift spent an hour on Saturday  visiting a 10-year-old cancer patient named Lauren Hacker at Omaha's Children's  Hospital.  

Lauren's father said Taylor was terrific.  She brought a "bag of goodies" and  autographed just about everything pushed her way.

Taylor's actually in town because her "Red" tour kicks off tomorrow  night in Omaha . . . but you have to give credit to Lauren's family and friends  for making it happen.

They put together a YouTube video featuring Taylor's song "You  Belong With Me" . . . but with the lyrics changed to talk about  Lauren's cancer and how she's a huge fan.  Taylor's people contacted them after  she saw the video.