Dream of a Lifetime

Our favorite wedding photo was taken in the Mount Stephen Hall, at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, and displayed prominently on their website. Allow us to tell you a little about the two people in the photo. My wife and I were engaged in the mountains of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and married in the mountains of Banff, Alberta. Both were magical events. However, we encountered a few valleys between our engagement and marriage, and subsequently after our wedding. My wife was informed immediately after our marriage that she required a kidney transplant. Without hesitation, I volunteered to donate to her. During transplant workup a tumor was found in my stomach. An emergency surgery was scheduled for the removal of the tumor. However, during the surgery it was determined that my entire stomach had to be removed, unfortunately leaving Angela without a donor.  My younger brother Andrew selflessly decided to donate his kidney to Angela and in doing so saved her life. We often look back at our wedding day in complete adoration, like couples often do. And, we try to escape to "our" castle in the mountains whenever life allows. We are forever grateful for each other, and take great solace in knowing that while our health may be weak, our love for one another grows stronger and is as solid as our castle in the mountains.