When 21-year-old Deanna Delmonaco and her sweetheart promised "'til death do us part," that day, sadly, was just around the corner. But friends and family made sure the dying bride got a fairy tale wedding before Jesus called her home!
"This of course was devastating to our family," her mother, Kim, said.[rsnippet id="3"] Despite her young age, Deanna refused to let the disease keep her down. She battled through years of aggressive therapies and surgeries. All the while, she kept up with school, a part-time job, and life as a teenager.
"She has undergone many lung surgeries to remove any tumors at time of relapse," Kim recalled online, "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."Through it all, Deanna remained positive and upbeat. She inspired and encouraged nearly everyone she met. It's probably one of reasons Grayson Pedro fell in love with her.
"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale. A tale as old as time."
"Deanna will always be an inspiration to me to keep going forward with my dreams no matter what life throws at me. She taught me that you can either feel sorry for yourself or you can try to make the best of the situation you were given," said her former college roommate.And at Deanna's memorial, her mother spoke of the beautiful legacy her daughter left behind, of being good to people and staying positive.
"In her short life, she touched many people, and left a mark on us all," Kim said. "Deanna lived her life by the motto that she had tattooed on her arm. That said ‘I Refuse to Sink’, and that she did. Until she chose to fly, on her own terms."And now that she's found healing in Heaven, God continues to use Deanna's memory to comfort and inspire. h/t: East Haven Patch YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Husband Pens Tribute To Wife On What Would’ve Been Their 1 Year Anniversary