Terminal cancer patient has 'wedding of lifetime'
AUBURN, Wash. - When Shelly Sundstrom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just weeks to live - she thought she'd never get married.
But on Sunday - she did.
It's an emotional story - sad but true - and it all began 10 years ago when Shelly met James Ellison.
James was going through a stem cell transplant for multiple sclerosis. Shelly worked as his caretaker, and the two fell in love.
"She was my caregiver - she took care of me for nine years," says James.
Then, several years into their relationship, doctors diagnosed Shelly with cancer.
James was devastated. "There's no life without her - I don't know life without her," he says. "Time is short and I have to be there - I want to be there ...."
James and Shelly always wanted to get married, and Shelly dreamed of walking down the aisle.
But, between her chemotherapy and his treatments, that dream always got pushed back - until Shelly and James ran out of time.
"Her cancer's advanced so much - we're going day to day," says James.
That's when a friend called "Wish Upon A Wedding" - a nonprofit group that just started up in January.
In less than a week the "Wish" folks organized a venue - the Sanders Mansion in Auburn - complete with flowers, catering, music, a preacher and more ...
"It's just amazing - there's so many people who care," Shelly says.
And then they heard the paster say those words that had long eluded them - "I pronounce you husband and wife."
James and Shelly say it doesn't matter how long life will last.
"This is a wedding of our lifetime," says James.
Because - this day, this moment - is the only thing that matters to them.
"Like a fairy tale ... like a fairy tale," she says.
And she will spend it with the man she loves.
James and Shelly plan to party the day away with close friends and family.
They know every moment together could be their last.
But on Sunday - she did.
It's an emotional story - sad but true - and it all began 10 years ago when Shelly met James Ellison.
James was going through a stem cell transplant for multiple sclerosis. Shelly worked as his caretaker, and the two fell in love.
"She was my caregiver - she took care of me for nine years," says James.
Then, several years into their relationship, doctors diagnosed Shelly with cancer.
James was devastated. "There's no life without her - I don't know life without her," he says. "Time is short and I have to be there - I want to be there ...."
James and Shelly always wanted to get married, and Shelly dreamed of walking down the aisle.
But, between her chemotherapy and his treatments, that dream always got pushed back - until Shelly and James ran out of time.
"Her cancer's advanced so much - we're going day to day," says James.
That's when a friend called "Wish Upon A Wedding" - a nonprofit group that just started up in January.
In less than a week the "Wish" folks organized a venue - the Sanders Mansion in Auburn - complete with flowers, catering, music, a preacher and more ...
"It's just amazing - there's so many people who care," Shelly says.
And then they heard the paster say those words that had long eluded them - "I pronounce you husband and wife."
James and Shelly say it doesn't matter how long life will last.
"This is a wedding of our lifetime," says James.
Because - this day, this moment - is the only thing that matters to them.
"Like a fairy tale ... like a fairy tale," she says.
And she will spend it with the man she loves.
James and Shelly plan to party the day away with close friends and family.
They know every moment together could be their last.
