Amy and Russells’ North Carolina Love Story

Love Story

Nov 5

On November 9, 2021, Amy and Russell will gather before family and friends to renew their vows after 17 years of marriage. For this sweet couple, the road back to the alter has been paved with more than its fair share of ups and downs.

Amy and Russell first met when she was just 17 years old – and they weren’t exactly very fond of each other. They knew each other through in laws, but only spent time around each other when Amy would come over to visit Russell and his then wife’s 8 children. Tragically, Russell’s wife died of breast cancer when she was just 37 years old, leaving him to raise his large family alone. Graciously, Amy decided to help Russell with the kids and the two started spending more time together. As fate would have it, they got into a large argument at a family party. When Russell called to apologize later in the evening, they ended up talking for more than three hours. That conversation was the beginning of something very special and within three months, the couple fell in love and got married.

Just two months into married life, Russell’s oldest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. She went through treatment and ended up recovering, but tragically died in a car accident a year later. The next few years were filled with many dark days as the two grieved the loss of their daughter, while raising seven other children. In 2015, not long after their 13th wedding anniversary, Amy found a lump in her breast. She went in for a mammogram and was sadly diagnosed with stage 2 B breast cancer.

She underwent a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy. In 2017, at the urging of her doctor, Amy underwent a hysterectomy. She continued to be closely monitored and in 2018, a scan revealed a nodule on her lung. She had surgery to remove part of her lung but was told that she would not need any more chemo.

After feeling fairly healthy for the next two years, Amy began to experience some concerning pain in her chest and arm. 2020 had been a difficult year for her with the death of her mom and the onset of COVID and she decided to it would be wise to get checked out. The tests revealed the worst. Her cancer had returned and had moved into her bones. This past year has been filled with tremendous pain, debilitating headaches, and incredibly challenging side effects. Amy and Russell are fighting, yet again, against a disease that has caused so much sorrow in their lives.

We fell for this couple from the minute we met them and can’t wait to help them renew their vows. We’ve enlisted the help of our good friend, Veronica Foster of Behind the Scenes, Inc and are so excited to see what she has in store for Amy and Russell.

Veronica has assembled a fabulous team of wish granters and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity and kindness so far.

Thank you, friends!

Planner: Veronica Foster, Behind the Scenes, Inc

Day of Planning: Patti Casas, Mathew Alexander Weddings & Events

Venue: Elm & Bain

Catering: Thyme 2 Cater

Floral: ABBA Design

Photography: Summer Brooke Photography

Baker: Just Desserts Catering and Cakes

Stationery: Davis Designs

Officiant: Minister Ron Grillo

Gown: David’s Bridal