Both received a second chance at life, and over time a second chance at love.
Recognizing that Canton’s David Parker and the former Liane Grimes had been through their separate hells, a national nonprofit decided to do them a heavenly deed.
That piece de resistance came in the form of a lavish wedding, one they couldn’t afford on their own.
The couple attributes their triumphs over their life-threatening health battles and meeting each other online as divine intervention.
The gift of Friday’s wedding, with all of the fixings, came courtesy of angels of a different sort — the recently formed Ohio chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding (WUAW), which provides weddings and vow renewals for couples “facing terminal illnesses and other serious life-altering circumstances.”
“Applications are viewed and voted on by members of the WUAW board,” a spokeswoman for the organization said. “Hundreds of applications are selected, since this a national organization. But in Ohio we are still looking to receive more applications.” See http://wishuponawedding.org for details.
Almost every detail of their wedding — including the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception — was donated by local vendors. The bride and groom are beyond grateful for the gift.
Liane — a nurse, originally from the Steubenville area — suffered a debilitating stroke in 2005, followed months later by a massive tumor in her chest. After treatment the young, soon-to-be divorced mother felt better for a while. Then came the CT scan that revealed, she said, “ numerous granulomas and nodules in my lungs, armpits and traveling up my trachea. Doctors found I had four different autoimmune disorders: vasculitis, sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. ”
The summary of the 31-year-old’s complicated, life-inhibiting health problems is that she must be on oral chemotherapy for the rest of her life. She receives intravenous treatments every two weeks from Dr. Felix Brizuela, a neurologist in Morgantown, W.Va., and she takes 18 pills a day. She now works from home for Health Help.
Her 37-year-old husband — originally from San Jose, Calif., and also a single parent of a daughter, Brittany — turned out out to have something else in common with the woman he asked to be his wife.
He battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma for nearly eight months with chemotherapy and radiation, and had a port in his chest, as well. Like his bride, David also is passionate about crediting his doctor, Canton hematologist/oncologist Dr. Kisa Weeman, with saving his life.
They believe their strong faith has drawn all good things to them.
David, who once was homeless and worked menial jobs, said he’s also blessed to be working in the steel industry, at Republic Storage Systems.
“The fact that David has fought and made it through his battle with cancer makes him my rock to make it through my battle,” Liane said.
That’s what made Liane and David the perfect choice for Wish Upon a Wedding, whose local volunteer vendors came together in a mighty way, feting them with a rehearsal dinner for 50 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Old Carolina Barbecue catered the fun event, which saw half of the wedding party dressed in Cleveland Browns jerseys, including the groom, and the other half in Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys with the bride leading that charge.
The wedding took place at the couple’s church, Louisville Christian Church, with Pastor Rick Brown officiating.
Wedding planner Tricia Dever, owner of Always Eventful in Canton, signed on as a volunteer with WUAW early on.
“They sent out feelers to local vendors, asking if we wanted to be involved,” she noted. “It’s a real pleasure planning a wedding for a couple as wonderful as Liane and David.”
Other vendors who felt the same way including the following: Henry B. Ball Jewelers, rings; Lavender Bridal, the wedding gown and a sizeable discount for the maid of honor and bridesmaids; American Commodore Tuxedo, the groom and the best man and discounts for the groomsmen; the Courtyard by Marriott in Jackson Township, space for the reception, food and beverages (nonalcoholic); The Budding Tree, lighting; Checkerboard Cheesecake; Drummonds Chocolates; L’nique Linens; Due Amicci Hair Salon (Chandra); Carman & Pugh Photography; Memory Products Videography; Thomas Limousine; Vintage Coach Limo; Get Down Sound DJ Service.
Liane and David feel certain their life together will be a happily ever after one, for they’ve already been through the worst of times and they also know how to compromise.
Take Nibbles, the 6-pound, biscuit-colored teacup poodle David gave Liane. “I wanted a mastiff,” she said, but added that she loves Nibbles so much that she was the couple’s ring bearer.
The fact that everything came together so beautifully, including how well their two children get along, led Liane to exclaim. “It’s like God’s stamp of approval for us!”
Dine and dance for charity
Beautiful bouquets to Onie Yovanovich who continues to lead the charge in organizing an annual dinner/dance to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
This year’s event, featuring the great music of the Nostalgia Gold Band featuring Larry Alltop, is planned for 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesday at Guy’s Party Centre, 500 E, Waterloo Road, Akron
On the menu is a buffet, soft drinks, beer and door prizes. Tickets are $10 adults; $5 children 12 and under. For tickets or more information, please call 330-690-5960.
Robeks’ Victory Gallop
Montrose Robeks (3727 W. Market St., Suite C) will not only be donating 10 percent of gross sales this weekend to Victory Gallop, a therapeutic riding program in Bath Township operated by Sue Miller and Kim Gustely, but also is welcoming Petie the Pony between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. on both days.
Petie is the popular Shetland/miniature horse who makes room-to-room visits at Akron Children’s Hospital and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the store to celebrate its one-year anniversary and to see which of the store’s smoothie drinks are a hit with Petie.
“There are tremendous things that kids gain from being around large animals,” said former horse owner Kit Arn, who operates Robeks with his wife Katie. “To me if I was a sick kid, warm muzzles and sweet horse breath would absolutely be the best medicine possible. We’re proud that the proceeds we raise will help fund Petie’s trips to the hospital.”
Store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Reader giveaways
• I’m looking for a deserving home for a Sears sewing machine being donated by a reader. “It comes with a box of discs for decorating sewing. I also have some fabric to give away,” the woman wrote.
Submit a convincing paragraph about your track record in helping those less fortunate and what you would do (via email) to continue to help others with the sewing machine.
• Yet another reader wants to donate a gently used peach-and-white patchwork, full-size spread with bolster pillows, three Euro shams, medium-size pillows and two sets of drapes/valances (dry-clean only).
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.