Love stories are always great to read and talk about especially when there is a wedding to be planned. That is the love story of Gabby and Frank, high school sweethearts that fell in love. You can see the love that they have for each other in the pictures as 123 Photography captures those moments.
Gabby and Frank were the typical high school sweethearts, until one day…..
27 Miracles received a letter from Gabby that read like this:
“Hello Rosie, thank you so much for taking the time to write back to me and ask me about my illness. I spoke to Ivonne and was amazed by the incredible weddings you’ve done for others. So I am really excited that you wrote to me! I would love to explain my story to you.
In 2013 my fiancé and I were celebrating our second anniversary of dating, when we got back home I became sick. It started with a cough and gradually turned into pneumonia and a virus. The doctors gave me antibiotics but I did not get better. I became paralyzed and wheelchair bound; I lost all my independence. I went from a normal 19 year old girl into someone that didn’t know what was happening; I felt lost. The doctors didn’t know what was happening. They operated on my left lung to determine what was happening but still no answers. The doctors kept saying the same thing, I just had a bad case of pneumonia.
My health problems were overwhelming. My mom and my fiancé became my caregivers. I couldn’t do the simplest of things like brushing my teeth or combing my hair. I became oxygen dependent. Many days I wanted to give up, but my faith kept reminding me to keep fighting. After a year of fighting, in December of 2013, I decided to get up on my own from the wheelchair. As I got out of the wheel chair I blacked out and was rushed to the hospital. While at the hospital, they ran tests and found fluid surrounding my heart. The doctors decided that an emergency surgery to remove the fluid was necessary. The doctors removed over 600cc of fluid inside and outside of my heart. They stated that if I had waited two more hours, I would have passed away. The next day while in ICU, I was told I had to have another surgery to figure out why my lungs weren’t capable of functioning on their own. They did surgery on my right lung this time.
I felt drained, but I kept fighting, I needed answers. I was diagnosed with three chronic autoimmune diseases. Dermatomyositis, this is a rare muscle disease that affects the heart and lungs, the breathing muscles, swallowing muscles and skeletal muscles. This disease depending on the day, debilitates me to the point where some days I can walk, while others I am confined to the wheelchair. I was also diagnosed with sjogrens syndrome, a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by degeneration of the salivary and lachrymal glands, causing dryness of the mouth and eyes. This condition also affected my teeth; sadly I am missing most of my teeth. The doctors also told me that I have pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory disease in which scars are formed in the lung tissues, leading to serious breathing problems. I am on chemotherapy medicine to control the diseases, prednisone and acthar gel injections as well. All these illnesses made the type 1 diabetes that I have had since age 8 worse.
Despite all of this happening in my life, my fiancé proposed to me while in the hospital in front of my family and favorite nurses on December 13, 2013. I didn’t know if I was going to live or die, I was hanging on to my faith. Saying YES to him was without a doubt my desire, he’s an amazing man and best friend.
The doctors have told me that I have 3 to 5 years to live because of the pulmonary fibrosis and the other conditions involved make the pulmonary fibrosis worse. My lung specialist stated that I have to be put on a lung transplant list. It’s a scary thing for me, but also for my fiancé, my mother, my younger brother and the family. There is a chance of rejection, but I truly believe God does things for a reason. I believe throughout my journey God made me into the woman I am, I see life differently, I appreciate the little things.
My goal is to marry the man of my dreams, to walk to him and not be in a wheelchair, even though I don’t know if this illness and its complications will take me away from him. I just want to finally marry the one I love. We have been engaged for two years and saving for a wedding has become impossible due to the medical bills.
Getting in touch with you is amazing. I truly believe God put Ivonne and you in my path for a reason. I do have so many ideas in my mind, one example is dedicating the song “Mamas Song” by Carrie Underwood to my mother, she’s been my rock through it all and dedicating a special song to my fiancé.
I would love to do my wedding if possible around February because my birthday is on Valentines Day. I don’t know how to sign the HIPAA form could you explain that to me. I don’t have an exact count on how many people will be there, but could I give you an estimate if possible? If my dream wedding is possible it would be a dream come true for me. Thank you again for taking the time to write to me! ”
When 27 Miracles planner Rosie Moore received this letter, she was touched by Gabby’s story. She spoke to a few wedding professionals who without even thinking, after she shared the story said count me in. There are many who are surprising the bride and groom with their services, so we shall have to keep everything a secret for now…but if you follow us on facebook , you will be sure to see many pictures of the beautiful day.
On Saturday, April 2nd 2016 at 2:30pm, Gabby and Frank will be married with all of their friends and family at First Baptist Orlando Church. The wedding professionals involved are all eager for this day to come so that they can give of themselves to make a bride’s dream come true. There will be a private reception for friends and family after the ceremony. On this day a community will join together to help make Gabby and Frank’s wedding dreams come true. 27 Miracles thanks all of the wedding professionals that have been involved in planning this blessed event.
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