Chase Smith was just 12 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
He managed to fight the tumors which required treatment in 2016 and 2019. But in March 2020 he received the devastating news that the tumors had returned, this time all over his body.
The news came just a year after he met girlfriend Sadie Mills at a swim meet. The two spent almost every day today and had planned to go to college together and then get married.
In April he was given the earth shattering news that he had three to five months left to live so with the support of his parents he asked Sadie to marry him.
With her wholehearted ‘yes’ a wedding ceremony was arranged in just four days in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“I told them (his parents) how much Sadie had changed my life and how much I loved her, how special she had been to me, the simple fact that there is nobody I’ve been able to open up about my personal life and cancer journey like I’m able to with her,” Chase said, as per Western Journal.
“She is able to calm me down in a lot of scenarios when nobody else can.”
“He was so sweet,” Sadie said of Chase. “He’s very polite. He’s a good Christian boy. We just fell in love with each other’s personalities. Now, he is all that matters to me.”
The wedding was held at Sadie’s parents home and the happy couple stood hand in hand at the end of Sadie’s parent’s driveway where they’d had their first kiss months before.
“This is like a Hallmark love story,” Chase’s mom, Kelli Smith, said. “A Nicholas Sparks love story. You just don’t see love like this.”
The family made a 15-minute recording of the beautiful ceremony for all those family and friends that couldn’t be present.
A GoFundMe was set up for Chase to help out with the many costs associated with his cancer treatment. More than $120,000 has been raised to help with Chase’s medical bills.
“If you’ve had the privilege of watching Chase swim, you have seen the drive and competitiveness that burns in his soul,” the page reads.
“If you’ve had the privilege of knowing Chase in person, you have seen the kindness and goodness, the loyalty and righteousness that exudes from his spirit. His faith is strong, his fight is strong and he has the support and love of a small community with a BIG heart!”
The two have faith and pray that Chase has more time on earth.
“The precious people in your life, the amount of time they are in your life, take every moment you have,” Chase said, as per Western Journal.
“Enjoy and give everything you can in those relationships. And know there is so much possible with love when your love includes God.”