''You get a diagnosis and you never know how short your time is," Keenan said. "I chose to believe there is going to be a cure. You still carry those dreams of getting married, having a kid."
Keenan wrote a letter to Dream Foundation, at the suggestion of her devoted nurses at the Santa Barbara cancer center. "It all just started snowballing," she said.
Her wish has been granted, thanks to Dream Foundation and flock of people she has never met.
Think of the foundation as MakeAWish, but instead of trying to help desperately sick children, Dream Foundation assists terminally ill adults.Keenan's wedding is a different, more lavish wish than most of the requests the foundation has been receiving in this tough economy.
"People's needs are becoming basic," said the charity's founder, Thomas Rollerson. "We are getting wishes just to pay an electric bill, pay the rent, or help keep a promise to go to Disneyland to give them that memory in a time of hopelessness, doctors visits and uncertainty."
Other dreams are simply for dying family members to be united with loved ones, last visits before last rites.
Rollerson explains that with money tight, donors can still help without writing big checks. For example, people can donate frequent flier miles or hotel points.
When corporate donors and philanthropists jump in, a Dream Foundation wish can turn elaborate. The foundation's Web site is a bulletin board of heartache looking for relief.
There's Bruce, 31, dying of Hodgkin's lymphoma. He wants to leave New York state for the first time and take his wife and his 6yearold son to Disney World.
Remedios is a California woman with incurable cancer. She wants to treat the daughter who stands over her bed to a Quinceniera, a traditional celebration for a girl who turns 15 years old.
Bone cancer is expected to kill Edward Lucas of Springfield, Missouri, in less than six months. He wants to celebrate his 21st wedding anniversary with his wife, Nancy, before he leaves her a widow with an adult daughter and three grandchildren.
Their dream is a warmweather honeymoon trip never taken.
Edward was hospitalized and too weak to talk to CNN.
"I wanted him to have a trip or something to look forward to," Nancy said. "A lot of people don't realize there are dreams for adults too."
The Lucas' dream trip is coming together with the help of Dream Foundation, which is hashing out some of the flight and hotel issues to Florida.
Back in California, Keenan's wedding is speeding toward January 24, thanks to dozens of corporate sponsors and a wealthy Texas dogooder, Beverly Adams, who made a big financial contribution. The upscale boutique Monique Lhullier donated the dress.
"We're a conduit," Dream Foundation's Rollerson said. "People are willing to help. They just need to know how and where."
Keenan, a hairdresser by trade, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She thought she had it beat two years ago when she met her fianc on New Year's Eve. She found out in March of 2007 the cancer returned. Her fianc has remained at her side.
"When they met, they were just so into each other," said Lena Rueff, who first introduced the bridetobe to her brother. "He has been a rock for her. He packs snacks, games, books to the hospital where he stays with her."
In the dress shop, she and the other bridesmaids cheer for Jessica. "You look sexy!" Her hair is cropped short after all the chemotherapy.
"I like the long veil."
Jessica pauses, realizing she's not just playing dressup with grade school friends.
"It's overwhelming. I'm anxious and excited," she said, standing in a room where some dresses cost more than new cars. "I still don't believe it's going to happen."
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