A cancer patient from Atlanta, Georgia has fulfilled his dying wish of marrying his fiancée after he was told by doctors he has just weeks to live.
Jordan Barrett, 24, was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year. In an attempt to eradicate the cancer, his entire stomach was removed.
While he originally thought he was in remission as his scans came back clean, the cancer came back more aggressive than before. As a result, his doctors told him the news that he didn’t have much time left.
By chance, he rekindled a friendship with his lifelong childhood friend Mikayla Thomas in March – and the pair fell madly in love. With Jordan’s tragic, terminal diagnosis, they decided to get married as soon as possible.
On Saturday, the loved-up couple wed in front of their tearful friends and family.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Mikayla expressed her undying love and gratitude for her new husband Barrett.
‘I still haven’t found words to put together to express my feelings or words towards Jordan,’ she said. ‘I just appreciate his mother especially, she shares her baby boy with me everyday during this time and I couldn’t respect or thank her more.
‘To his family, I appreciate them for supporting me, and every decision I have made. I love this man more than life itself and I will forever live in his name.’
Thomas said she and Barrett had known each other since childhood, but reconnected in March and fell in love.
‘We’ve known each other since babies in diapers, but life brought us together in March,’ she said.
‘After he found out about the cancer, he didn’t waste any time on wanting to make me his forever.’
The newlyweds are still planning their honeymoon and haven’t fully decided where they want to venture off to.
At first, Barrett wanted to keep the tragic news of his cancer diagnosis from others to avoid dealing with the reality of the situation.
‘[The cancer] has now spread to multiple places and we do not have the same options for treatment,’ Barrett said in the description of a GoFundMe.
‘Doctors confirmed last week that we will be moving into palliative care with an anticipated timeline of 6 weeks until the progression has a large effect on me day to day, and 4 months until the cancer wins.
‘It’s a devastating thing to process for me and my family – I originally asked my family to not share, hoping to hide from this reality.
‘But as I have processed this news in the last week, I realized that I need the fullest support system possible for myself and the immediate family & friends.’
He said he has since accepted his fate, and wants to make the most of his remaining time – especially with his new beautiful bride.
‘I know where I am going after this time is over and I have accepted it – I just want to spend my remaining time celebrating and being with those I love,’ he said.