Feature: Bruce Springsteen Makes Terminally-Ill Fan's Dream Real

The title for Bruce Springsteen's new album, Working On a Dream, couldn't be more fitting.

Last night in Los Angeles, Springsteen made a terminally ill fan's lifelong dream come true. Karen Marquadt had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and on Monday April 13, her oncologist informed her that she was left with only three weeks to live. Karen, 51, had one dream though—to attend one of Bruce Springsteen's legendary live shows and meet him.

Karen's social worker contacted Dream Foundation in Los Angeles on Tuesday April 14 with the request. Dream Foundation specializes in making dreams come true for terminally-ill adults. Keeping with their moniker, Dream Foundation granted Karen her wish arranging for her to attend Bruce's show on Thursday at the Los Angeles Sports Arena with three friends. However, when Karen got there she was surprised with the opportunity for a special, personal meet-and-greet with the Boss himself.

Backstage before Bruce played a set of hits to the packed crowd, Karen spent 15 minutes with him in his dressing room. The Thousand Oaks resident has got a house full of Springsteen memorabilia, but she made sure to bring one record and a book for Bruce to sign. In a beautiful exchange, Bruce gave Karen the autographs and posed for numerous photos. About the meeting, Michele Nichols of Dream Foundation comments, "He was so focused on her. It was just a beautiful and tender moment to experience. He went far beyond our expectations, but that's the kind of guy Bruce is."

Bruce went even further though. The biggest and best surprise came when he dedicated "Backstreets" to Karen over endless cheers from fans.

About the night, Karen's joy is tangible. "It was the most magical evening of my life," she says. "To get the most devastating news of your whole life and then get the best news of your life in one week was crazy, but Dream Foundation made me feel like 'Queen for a Day.'"

The power of Bruce's music has permeated through Karen's entire life, but this meeting definitely proved most poignant. Karen continues, "Bruce made me so happy for so many years. He's been the one entity that has been there all my life to make me happy, and here, he showed up for me. He was so gentle, and he's just what I thought he would be."

Check out photos below of Karen with Bruce.

Bruce Springsteen and Karen Marquadt | by Michele Nichols

Bruce Springsteen and Karen Marquadt | by Michele Nichols

Bruce live at the Los Angeles Sports Arena

Bruce Springsteen | by Kevin Estrada

Bruce Springsteen | by Kevin Estrada

—Rick Florino
04.17.09

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Check out more work from photographer Kevin Estrada on his official website and blog, listed respectively below:

http://www.kevinestrada.com/
http://kevinestrada.wordpress.com/