“We thought we were going for another kind of treatment and it would work,” Alina recalled after she heard her daughter’s fate. “It was like a gut punch. You never imagine them saying they can’t do anything else for her.”
So, family and friends rallied together, determined to make Emma’s wish a reality. After two days of preparation, mostly from donations of kind friends and family, a ceremony was held for the young couple in Emma’s grandmother’s garden on June 29, 2023.
Over 100 guests, including teachers, doctors, and nurses, gathered to witness the touching event. Aaron had the honor of walking his daughter down the aisle while their third-grade teacher recounted the story of their childhood friendship.
“Their teacher spoke at their wedding and said they tried to have a wedding at recess,” Alina revealed as she recalled an incident when the kids were 8 years old. “When me and DJ’s mom found that out, we said we had to let them get married.”
The occasion was incredibly special and flawlessly organized.
“Her dad gets to say he gave her away. A friend of ours officiated, a friend read a verse from the bible and her best friend was the maid of honor,” the happy mom said.
Despite her discomfort, Emma was determined to experience her special day fully, even delaying pain medication to avoid falling asleep during the ceremony. DJ’s sweetness toward his bride was apparent to everyone present. Tragically, Emma passed away on July 11, 2023, but the family has found comfort in the fact that they were able to grant her wish.
“She was a sweetheart. I always say we must have made marriage look really fun because that’s all she wanted,” Alina said.