Dying man gets final wish to marry love of his life

Christopher Ford married his wife Nicole after doctors gave him just weeks to live. (Fox 29)

A 26-year-old man with terminal cancer was granted his wish to marry the love of his life last week after doctors said he may not live to see the planned October wedding date.

“They wanted his last wish to be his best wish— to be married to his best friend,” Bob Ford, Christopher Ford’s father, told Fox 29. “My heart was just overjoyed with glory and pleasure that the two of them were finally getting married.”

Christopher has been dating his 22-year-old wife Nicole for three years, and the couple shares daughter Maddie, 4, and son Tristan, 1, Fox 29 reported. He had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and throat shortly after Tristan’s birth, The Daily News Journal reported. While doctors initially gave him an 80 percent chance of survival, tumors continued to grow and spread to his other organs.

“They had told him they couldn’t do anymore treatment because he was too weak,” Bob told Fox 29. “His immune system and body were so frail.”

The couple moved up their wedding date in Nashville, Tenn., which is where Christopher had moved after his diagnosis so that his mother could help care for him.

“I walked him down the aisle and up to the altar, and I actually didn’t know as well that I was going to say the vows because he can’t speak because of his throat and mouth cancer,” Bob told the news station.

The couple’s children were also involved in the ceremony.

“You look at Chris and you see him fighting with all his will and heart, and he’s doing it for his family and for his kids,” a relative identified as Joe, told Fox 29. “When you see that, it brings out everything in you.”