Update on "Couple's dying wish for dream wedding" story: Nolan Keane, an Illinois man with terminal brain cancer, who wanted to marry his high school sweet heart and honeymoon in Walt Disney World, finally got his dream. The couple's dream wedding was recently granted, thanks to a Facebook campaign and fund-raising website, according to a March 16 ABC top news report.
The couple's emotional journey began in 2008 when Keane, 28, of Kewanee, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer with a poor prognosis. Doctors informed him of the grim diagnosis and said he only had about a year of life remaining.
However, Nolan, a former college baseball player, expressed a strong will to live; secretly inside, he wanted to live long enough to marry the girl of his dream.
Morgan Carstens, 26, his girlfriend at the time, loved Nolan so much; she the registered nurse put her job on hold and moved into the dying man's home to care for him. She assisted his family with feeding her boyfriend, getting him dressed and assisting with daily hygiene.
"I didn't think twice about it. I knew he needed me and I would kind of feel guilty taking care of others," said Carstens.
Kewanee proved doctors wrong about his one-year-death sentence; four years later, he was still alive against the odds. In fact, last November, during a trip to Disney World, Nolan, who was mostly confined to wheelchair, asked Carstens for help to stand up because he back was hurting.
However, he tricked Morgan and got down on one knee and proposed. She was more then happy to oblige the dying man with a resounding "yes."
Sadly, his health took a turn for the worse a short time later. Test results showed the brain cancer had spread.
The couple's dying wish for a dream wedding in Disney World appeared out of reach due to the enormous cost. However, the nurse's sisters stepped in to assist. After all, their sister's fiance had gone to the magical place every year before the dreaded cancer diagnosis. It was his special and happy place.
They hatched the idea of a Facebook campaign and then used the fund raising site, Give Forward, to set a goal of $20,000. However, in just four short days, they raised over $60,000.
The outpouring of love and support from the public was enormous. Not only does the couple's dying wish include a dream wedding at Disney World; the honeymoon will take place there as well.
After their honeymoon, the couple plans to use the money for hospital expenses and making Nolan's home more wheelchair accessible.
Congratulations to Nolan and Keane!
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