BUTLER (KDKA) — A local man is facing a life-threatening battle with cancer.
Even so, he was able to marry his fiancée of 10 years Saturday, and it was all made possible by an organization that grants special wishes.
Saying their vows in front of family and friends has been John Greenawalt’s dying wish. The 46-year-old Butler County man was diagnosed with gastric cancer in May, which rapidly became terminal.
"We wanted to be married for a long time," said Betty Greenawalt, John's wife. "We thought we had a lot longer and this is just overwhelming.”
The ceremony is one that’s been in the making for 14 years, that is when the couple met and fell in love. And with the help of Butler Memorial Hospital and the charitable organization, Unity – A Journey of Hope, it was put together in just two days.
John Robinson is the co-founder of Unity – A Journey of Hope, which is a non-profit group that makes it a priority to grant end-of-life requests.
"This is the ultimate expression of love for your last wish to say I love you, whether it’s a day, whether it’s a year, their love will never fade and that’s what today is," said Robinson. "It's a true blessing that we’re able to be a part of this."
He got the call Thursday that the wedding needed to happen, soon. With a lot of donations from the hospital and hard work from volunteers, the request became a reality.
Greenawalt was too weak to stand for the ceremony, but his new bride didn’t mind.
She’s just happy to now share the same last name with a man she’s been on an emotional roller coaster with since his diagnosis.
"We're just going to take everything one day at a time and we will make it through as many things as we can from here out," she added.
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