Dying Wish: Bride Ties The Knot At Fairy Tale Wedding Just Before Her Death

EAST HAVEN CT — After years of treatments, setbacks and a grim prognosis, 21-year old Deanna Delmonaco of East Haven finally got the dream wedding she deserved. Her ceremony came just weeks before passing away Monday due to the terminal illness she had courageously fought for years.

As she was rolled down the aisle by her soon-to-be-husband Grayson Pedro during her wedding ceremony, all in attendance sported bright smiles as a woman who spent years loving tales of happily ever after got to live out one of her own.

The couple's wedding was held on August 26 not long after Pedro proposed, who told Delmonaco he wished to be married to her for whatever amount of time they had left. The ceremony took place outside and was presided over by a family friend, having all the earmarks of a magical affair.

Unfortunately, Delmonaco would pass away not long after living this dream.

The news of her passing was announced Monday by her mother, Kim LaViola Shaul, on Facebook.

"Our hearts are broken into a million pieces and will never be the same again," Shaul said in a post. "There are no words to describe the pain I feel, but I'm sure nothing like the pain [she] endured the past nine years."

Yet while she leaves a community to grieve, Delmonaco has also left a profound legacy, one built upon a history of fighting courageously with a positive outlook no matter how hard the challenges life threw her way.

Putting Up A Fight

Delmonaco was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2009 at the age of 13, according to a GoFundMe page set up by Shaul in September 2016.

"This of course was devastating to our family," Shaul said on the page.

In light of the sad news of her passing , dozens of people have posted messages of condolences on Delmonaco's Facebook page.

"Rest easy strong woman," Kim Coppola said in a post, "you have touched the lives of so many and a piece of you will live on in each of our hearts. Your mom and [husband] have showed what it is to have love and grace in the face of life's biggest challenges."

Immediately after her diagnosis in 2009, Delmonaco started aggressive chemotherapy, according to the GoFundMe page. Though she essentially lived at Yale-New Haven Hospital during this time, Delmonaco still managed to graduate with her eighth grade class.

A video was made and posted to YouTube in September 2016 to accompany the GoFundMe page that documented the young patient's struggle.

Delmonaco continued to fight bravely in the face of her struggle as the years continued, all while working hard at both school and a part-time job.

"She has undergone many lung surgeries to remove any tumors at time of relapse," Shaul said, "lung resections and removal of her lower left lobe, radiation treatments on both lungs and also to her trachea, all while maintaining passing grades in high school, graduating with her class and working at Hot Topic."

Posts on her Facebook page reflect the many ways Delmonaco has touched the lives of so many people who knew her.

"Deanna, you are the most kind-hearted and genuine person I know," Joseph Peterson said in a post. "It seemed like nothing could ever bring you down even on your worst days. I'll be sure to cherish the short time that we knew each other. You put up one hell of a fight with cancer and it's bitter sweet to know now you're not suffering anymore."

A Fairy Tale Wedding

Though Delmonaco had been told in June she may only have months to live, she and Pedro were married August 26 in East Haven, according to the couple's wedding website. A video was made and recently posted to Vimeo by Shane McLellan to show highlights from this dream-come-true moment.

According to the video, family friend and ordained minister Tracy Allen presided over the ceremony.

"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale," Allen said in the video. "A tale as old as time."

One week after being told she may not have much time left, Pedro proposed to Delmonaco and said he would be honored to have her as his wife for as long as they had. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The two shared a love of Disney films and theme parks, having taken a trip together to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, of which photos were posted to the couple's wedding website.

The website invited those attending the ceremony to "be our guest," in reference to the song from the 1991 animated film "Beauty and the Beast."

Following the proposal, family and friends of Delmonaco immediately set out to give her all the experiences of a future bride. In a short span of time, she was given both a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, all leading up to her fairy tale wedding in August.

"We are here to celebrate life and love," Allen said. "Soulmates who have demonstrated the true meaning of devotion and strength."

Guests in attendance were given stones which had "weathered many storms." They symbolized items that were strong and unbreakable, just like the relationship between Delmonaco and Pedro.

"We all know that Deanna and Grayson have a love for Disney," Allen said, "a great love in fact, so I have a question for everyone: can you feel the love tonight?"

A Wish Your Heat Makes

Following the wedding, Shaul set up a second GoFundMe page on September 1 to share the story of her daughter's happily ever after. She also asked for help from those touched by her daughter's tale.

"We set this [GoFundMe] up," Shaul said on the page, "because people were asking if there was a place to donate to help this couple with any financial burdens they may be facing."

As of Monday evening, the page had raised $2,995 of a $5,000 goal in nine days.

"We thank everyone for your continued support, not just financially but emotionally as well," Shaul said. "This has truly been an emotional time for our families and appreciate all the well wishes and thoughtfulness of everyone."

As a community of friends and family grieve the loss of someone truly special to all, many have chosen to focus on Delmonaco's inspiring nature. An image of a flower has been circulating around Facebook with the name "Deanna" over it, followed by the sentence "I made a difference."

For many, Delmonaco made a huge difference, whether it be in the way she inspired people to fight in the face of life's greatest struggles, to show compassion and joy even when the future looks grim or perhaps in the way she inspired others to remember the magic that comes from adopting a fairy tale's outlook on life.

As the video of Delmonaco's magical wedding comes to a close, the words Cinderella once sang in her eponymous 1950 animated film come to mind, perhaps as words of comfort to those who will truly miss her each day:

"No matter how your heart is grieving,

If you keep on believing,

The dream that you wish will come true."

To donate to the couple's GoFundMe page, click here. Those who also wish to donate to Shaul's previous GoFundMe page can do so here.

Video via Shane McLellan on Vimeo

Image via Deanna Delmonaco and Grayson Pedro's The Knot Wedding Registry website