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WHEELING - If her goldfish's name is any indication, Taylor Mercer is a big fan of Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.

Taylor is such a fan of "Sid the Kid" that she's always dreamed of meeting him - and Make-A-Wish made it happen for her.

Taylor, 15, daughter of Dr. William and Gigi Mercer of Wheeling, visited with Crosby recently and watched the team practice during its Stanley Cup run at Mellon Arena.

Make-A-Wish is a foundation that grants the wishes of children who have life-threatening diseases. Taylor was born with pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the lungs.

As part of her treatment, she had to wear an IV that pumped a special medicine into her heart for 12 years. It was run by a battery that she wore on her back. Now she's on other medicines that do not require an IV.

"She was accepted by Make-A-Wish when she was 3, but she was always on an IV. We were kind of afraid to go anyplace," William Mercer said.

Taylor's love of hockey began when her brothers started playing, and for the past three years she's followed Crosby, 21, and the Penguins.

The Penguins are in the midst of the Stanley Cup Finals, competing against the Detroit Red Wings. Game 5 of the series is set for 8 p.m. today in Detroit. The series is tied at two games apiece.

"He knew how much it meant," William Mercer said of Crosby. "This was her choice - instead of going to Disney World, she wanted to meet Sidney Crosby."

Gigi Mercer noted Taylor was a little shy upon first meeting Crosby.

"He was really nice to Taylor," she said, noting Crosby autographed several items, including Penguins jerseys, one of which is hanging on Taylor's bedroom wall. "It's definitely a wish come true."

"He's such a normal kid. He's like one your kid's friends," William Mercer added.

Taylor first learned she was going to meet Crosby when her dad came to Triadelphia Middle School to tell her.

"Yeah, I almost had a heart attack," Taylor said.

William Mercer is Ohio County's health officer and has a private practice in Wheeling. In addition to Taylor, the Mercers also have three sons: Andy, 21; Chris, 25; and Steve, 23.