Print-friendly Version
Bruce Springsteen fulfills dying woman's dream
Bruce Springsteen recently made a life-long dream come true for cancer patient Karen Marquadt when he invited her backstage to hang out in his dressing room before his April 16 show at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, according to a press release.
With the help of the non-profit Dream Foundation, Springsteen also arranged for the 51-year-old Marquadt, who at the time was expected to only live three more weeks, to sit in the front row at the concert. During the show, he dedicated "Backstreets" to her, saying, "This is for Karen."
"To get the most devastating news of your whole life and then get the best news of your life in one week was crazy," Marquadt said in a statement. "But Dream Foundation made me feel like 'Queen for a Day.'" Marquadt, who has ovarian cancer, said the rocker gave her a real big hug and she got to kiss him. "This was the most wonderful day of my life," she said. "I've been trying to meet him for 35 years, ever since I saw him in a gym in Santa Barbara. I've seen him in concert as many times as I could over the years. I once paid $2,000 for tickets."
The Dream Foundation, founded in Santa Barbara in 1994, is the first and only national wish granting organization for adults suffering life-limiting illnesses. More information is available at the organization's website.
