Hurried along by a cancer diagnosis, the West Shore community is planning a wedding 14 years in the making.

Rachelle Kipp and Mike Schepaniuk met through work and found out very quickly that they were right for each other.

B次元官网网址淲ithin the first couple months of dating we knew we loved each other,B次元官网网址� Kipp said. B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 want to leave each otherB次元官网网址檚 sides.B次元官网网址�

The couple has been engaged for eight years, but did not have any plans for a wedding any time soon.

That changed when SchepaniukB次元官网网址檚 mother developed an aggressive form of cancer.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 taken over a lot of her bodyB次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 shutting her down,B次元官网网址� Kipp said. B次元官网网址淚f this is one thing I can do to show her how much I care about her and how much I love her son, then I will do that.B次元官网网址�

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Kipp said they were planning on getting married at the courthouse. Searching for a justice of the peace, Kipp posted in a community Facebook group.

B次元官网网址淲ithin 15 minutes I had over 100 comments of people offering different services to make sure I would have one of the best days of my life,B次元官网网址� Kipp said.

Community members stepped up to help the couple with decorations, a cake and even a dress, turning what was to be a courthouse wedding into an intimate ceremony held at their home.

B次元官网网址淢y head is spinning with emotion,B次元官网网址� Kipp said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 thank them enoughB次元官网网址� if it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for all these people this wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be happening the way it is happening.B次元官网网址�

On Wednesday morning, Kipp said she received a message from her mother in-law telling Kipp how much she loves her and how her faith in humanity is restored. Kipp said her mother in-law is ecstatic about being able to see the two of them marry.

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B次元官网网址淗er own words were she never knew that there is so much love in this world,B次元官网网址� Kipp said. B次元官网网址淭hat made me tear up a bit.B次元官网网址�

SchepaniukB次元官网网址檚 stepfather also has an incurable form of bone cancer. Kipp said both she and Schepaniuk will have close family at the ceremony. SchepaniukB次元官网网址檚 mother has chosen medically assisted death for her end-of-life and Kipp said they are not sure how long they will have with her after the wedding.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 one of the strongest women I knowB次元官网网址� it just makes you want to spend every last second with her and make it happy,B次元官网网址� Kipp said.

The couple marries Feb. 16 and Kipp is happy her mother in-law will be able to see it happen.

B次元官网网址淸Schepaniuk] is just the most amazing person. His mom has done the most amazing job raising this boy,B次元官网网址� Kipp said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 thank her enough for giving me that part of my life because I would be lost without him. HeB次元官网网址檚 my best friend.B次元官网网址�

shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com

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