Make-A-Wish Sent This Drag Race Superfan to the Season 10 Finale

Lilian Schaffer was a dedicated RuPaul's Drag Racefan long before she was diagnosed with cancer. Before the itching, nerve pain, fevers, and night sweats came, she was drawn to the performers for their artistry and talent. Though she admits that she was late to the game, only diving into the reality TV show in its eighth season, Schaffer, an artist and makeup lover herself, immediately binged the series, making up for any previous time lost.

"The only thing I ever wanted to do when I was up all night or lying on the couch unable to even sit up was watch RuPaul's Drag Race," said Shaffer. "When I was finally diagnosed with Stage 2 Lymphoma on Halloween 2017, I decorated my [hospital] room with drag queen paper dolls and my first words out of my surgery were, 'My spirit animal is a drag queen.'" On top of that, Shaffer even adopted a guinea pig and named it Nina BoNina Brown. While undergoing treatment All Stars 3 was airing, and as season 10 premiered Shaffer was told she needed two more months of chemotherapy.

Courtesy of Lilian Shaffer

When she was approved for the Make-A-Wish program, Shaffer couldn't think of anything better than meeting the people who had helped her through her diagnosis and treatment. "I finished treatment in May 2018 so I had about a month to recover and lose the steroid weight before I met my heroes," she said. "After around 70 chemo infusions, six months of high-dose prednisone, and 14 days of radiation, I needed a fun reward. Going to see the season finale was the best decision I could have ever made."

The queens of season 10 were just as excited to meet Shaffer as she was to meet them, with many of them posting their pictures with her to their professional Instagram accounts and sharing messages of encouragement. "I was unbelievably nervous and star-struck, but they were all so nice," said Shaffer. "It really was magical." Though she likes every queen from season 10, Shaffer's past favorites align with many other fans, naming Kim Chi, Alyssa Edwards, Bob the Drag Queen, and Katya as some of her all-time favs. See some of her amazing red carpet moments, below.

The RuPaul's Drag Race season 10 finale airs this Thursday on VH1 at 8/7c.