A couple of sweethearts will fulfill their dream of honeymooning in the Magical Kingdom, thanks to the kindness of generous donors.
Nolan Keane, 28, and Morgan Carstens, 26, will be tying the knot on March 9, before they head to Disneyland for a dream honeymoon sponsored by the donations from warm-hearted strangers.
Of course, their happily ever after has an A Walk To Remember type twist: Keane has stage four brain cancer that he has been battling since 2008 and he is dying. Back in November, he was told that he’d have less than a year to live.
Still, he proposed to his high school sweetheart and plans on making her his wife before he runs out of time.
The couple has been through several treatments, hospitalizations and surgeries together since the devastating news of his diagnosis. Carstens is a registered nurse but had put her career on hold to take care of Keane full time.
Back in late fall, Keane’s family took him on a visit to Disneyland where he had spent every summer as a little boy — of course, he brought along with him the woman who has remained by his side through thick and thin. It would be a trip to remember.
“Finally, went up to the castle to see the fireworks,” Carstens told New York Daily News. “Nolan tricked me. He told me his back was hurting and asked me to help him out of his wheelchair. Then he got down on one knee. I started crying so much that I forgot to answer.”
With medical bills draining their funds, Carstens’ sisters came up with the brilliant idea of creating a donation page on GiveForward, a fundraising website. The objective of their campaign was to raise $20,000 to cover the expenses of their dream honeymoon.
As of this morning, they are at $64,190 — and it looks like they will be getting their wish fulfilled.
Of course, the bride understands her future with the groom is limited. But they intend on getting the most out of what time they have left.
“Just remember to love the people in your life while you can,” Carstens said.
With donations from strangers varying from $10 to $3,000, the couple has reached their goal and will be returning to Disneyland as they dreamed.
If this doesn’t make you go home and give your loved ones a tight hug, we don’t know what will.
