Wish Upon a Wedding

Click image to hear Sally & Tom’s Love Story in their own words…

It’s not every day that you hear someone say, “Farmville” brought us together.

When two people meet under unusual circumstances, it’s easy to dismiss it as “chance” or “luck,” but Sally believes more in destiny. How else can she explain finding her soul mate, the one who willingly stands by her, despite the many challenges brought on by her illness?

Sally has been diagnosed with ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The disease slowly strips it’s victims of their ability to control their muscles, sometimes eventually rendering them totally paralyzed. Sally is optimistic, though; hoping for a cure for the disease, but comfortable waiting, because she has Tom.

The couple met online, through the Facebook game, Farmville. Sally’s mother prodded her into joining. Soon, Tom – already an online friend
of Sally’s mom – asked Sally what he could send her in Farmville. Her response? “A nice boyfriend would be good for a change.” So, that’s exactly what she got, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

Tom was with her when she received her diagnosis of ALS. He went with her, hand-in-hand, when she had to share the devastating news with her mother. He has accompanied her to multitudes of doctor visits, appointments with specialists, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as visits to the nutritionist and massage therapist. It is best said in Sally’s words: “when most men would run in the opposite direction, he has been there all the time.”

Sally knows her needs will only grow, and Tom is ready to be there for her. Already, he assists her with many everyday activities and tasks most of us take for granted – bathing, washing her hair, and meal preparation, for example. He loves her, despite her illness.

The couple envisions a wedding where Sally is able to stand without the aid of braces on her legs, surrounded by their family and closest friends. Sally wishes for her mother, children and grandchildren to be there to help celebrate the love Tom has for Sally, and she for him.

Because of her ALS diagnosis, Sally qualifies for a Wedding Wish to be joyfully granted by the Indianapolis Chapter on May 1, 2011. Sally and Tom will be the Indianapolis Chapter’s second Wish Recipients. Thank you to the fabulous team of Wish Granters who have been working hard with Sally & Tom to make their day so special! The beautiful engagement photography shown has been provided by Grant Munroe, CGM photography. The amazing love story film was created by Jet Kaiser, of Jet Kaiser Films.

For more information about Sally & Tom’s  upcoming wedding or Wish Upon a Wedding Indianapolis, contact Heather Lapham Kuhn, PR/Media Chair at Indianapolismedia@wishuponawedding.org or message the Wish Upon A Wedding Indianapolis Facebook page.