Dream Comes True In Venice Beach For Cancer Patient From Colorado

VENICE BEACH (CBSLA.com) —  Katie Wood's wish came true on the shores of Venice beach Wednesday. She had never gone swimming in the ocean until now.

Katie Wood, 21, of Colorado, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 and was given 18 months to live.

She said playing in the ocean was "the last thing on my bucket list I've ever wanted to do. Just stick my feet in the beach."

When her friend, Lily Regina, found out, she launched a CrowdRise fundraiser to pay for her trip to Southern California. They met their goal in only two days.

The two met after being diagnosed with stage-4 cancer within months of one another.

"I wanted to do something for my friend," Regina said. "It's all I really wanted is for her to be happy and have fun."

And they did. The girls not only got in the water, they surfed it.

Crowdrise organized surf lessons for the duo.

"It's still surreal. It feels like a dream. It's so blue, a lot bluer than I imagined. It doesn't even feel cold," Wood said.

"She looked like a little kid just discovering something for the first time," Regina said.

Wood's doctors did not think she would still be around let alone be well enough to fly to Los Angeles and surf.

"I made it against all odds. I beat the odds," Wood said proudly.

She said she felt at peace for the first time in a long time. "It's kind of like my last request is complete."

The two young ladies stayed in Southern California for one more day to cross off one more wish - to go see the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday.