Teen dying of cancer gets final wish: To marry high school sweetheart

A teenager stricken with terminal cancer fulfilled his dying wish of marrying his high school sweetheart this past weekend.

Dustin Snyder, 19, wed his girlfriend Sierra Siverio in Plant City, Florida on Sunday after his supportive community rallied together to help organise their wedding in less than a week.

The bittersweet ceremony took place at The Big Red Barn just four days after the pair got engaged, reports the Daily Mail.

The teen, who has been battling cancer on and off for roughly a year, was given the heartbreaking news a few weeks back that there was nothing more doctors could do for him.

The bittersweet ceremony took place at The Big Red Barn just four days after the pair got engaged. Photo / Daily Mail

They say he has just weeks left to live.

"Appreciate the time you have... you don't know how much time you have," the bride told ABC News.

The groom also said he feels "amazing" and the dream wedding was "the best most special day" of his life "for sure."

The newlyweds will celebrate further with a honeymoon at Disney World followed by a getaway to Colorado next month.

The young couple, who have been dating for just over two years, decided last Monday that they wanted to get married sooner rather than later.

Dustin with his girlfriend Sierra, who he plans to marry after being told he has just weeks to live. Photo / Facebook, Dustin Snyder

"I'll be forever grateful for this, it is going to be a blessing. I'm extremely excited," Sierra told DailyMail.com of their nuptials.

Despite the circumstances, Sierra remains optimistic about the time they have left and plans to make the most of being husband and wife.

Sierra said the pair first met back in the sixth grade when they attended the same middle school.

Dustin says his girlfriend Sierra "means the world to me. I wouldn't be able to get through any of this without her." Photo / Facebook, Sierra Siverio

They reconnected several years later when she walked into their local Steak 'n Shake to apply for a job and Dustin happened to be working there.

They've been together ever since and Sierra has been by Dustin's side right throughout his battle with cancer.

Dustin was diagnosed on his 18th birthday when he started suffering from chest pains and was taken to the hospital.

"The doctors said there was a mass on his lungs. They did a biopsy and figured out it was cancer," Sierra said.

Dustin before his diagnosis. Photo / Facebook

"They did chemo and it was working, but it was around the lung too much. They ended up removing his lung."

He had surgery again in August to remove more tumour's after the cancer returned to his stomach and chest area.

"He was cancer free in November. But then he started not feeling well. He went back to the doctor and they found it all over his stomach and pelvis," Sierra said.

"There's too much so there's no treatment.

"They said it's going to be hard. Hospice is now in the picture. It could be weeks or even a month."

Following the tragic news, the couple enlisted the help of their families to make Dustin's final wish of marrying his soulmate a reality.

For their honeymoon, they will celebrate further with a honeymoon at Disney World. Photo / Daily Mail

His sister Brittany Hails put a call out on Facebook to help spread the word and the result has overwhelmed them.

The wedding venue was donated free of charge and donations have helped buy a wedding dress, suit and rings.

The cake, photographer, food and decor was also been taken care of.

"I'm very grateful for all they have donated. I love how the community has come together as a whole. I'm glad we still have good people in world," Sierra added.

The GoFundMe page set up for the couple's wedding reached $39,567 of the $40,000 goal.