Tennessee sweethearts Joel Alsup and Lindsey Wilkerson tied the knot earlier this month, exactly 25 years after they both met as patients at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
At 7 year old, Joel, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, and Lindsey, at 10 had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, they even selected the same hospital to exchange their marriage vows.
“When I met this guy, when I was in treatment, I admired him,” Wilkerson said of her now-husband who had his arm amputated before being declared cancer-free. “I looked up to him, I thought he was such an incredible person. We grew in our friendship over the years.”
The pair lost touch after treatment and went their separate ways for college, but reconnected when they both accepted jobs at St. Jude’s.
Wilkerson, 37, was on her rounds on her first day and instantly recognized her childhood crush Alsup’s smile. The love that had blossomed between the pair came back to life.
“I was finally brave enough to tell her that I liked her, not only that I loved her,” Alsup, now 38, said, according to Fox 13 Now. “Luckily she felt the same way.”
They were married on Sept. 1, which is also the first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Brent Powell, a chaplain who Alsup knew during his early days of treatment, officiated the ceremony.
“I could have never fathomed that I would be sitting here today at his side as his wife, having the privilege to be married on the grounds of the place that saved our lives,” Wilkerson said.
These two certainly are an inspiration to millions of cancer survivors around the globe and we are touched by their beautiful love story.
