When Zack and Madison Stroup exchanged their wedding vows, the phrase ‘Till heaven do us part’ ’took on a profoundly significant new meaning.

They were colleagues in high school and fell in love with one another several years after meeting. Zach had been afflicted with both Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Crohn’s disease.

Despite receiving medical treatment, his condition continued to deteriorate, leaving him a mere husk of his former self.

Madison rushed him to the hospital, where they were given information that ruled out any future possibility of their union.

The physician stated that he was diagnosed with malignancy. Madison reported feeling as though the walls were closing in on her.

However, the pair refused to acknowledge that there was little hope of survival, and they ultimately determined that they should fight together for what little life remained.

The nine-month hospitalization of Zach was a roller coaster voyage. A few months later, he discovered

that the cancer had returned after undergoing cycles of chemotherapy until he went into remission.

She added, ‘He looked me in the eyes, weeping, and told me that he didn’t want to fight any more,’

so Madison dealt with the circumstance as best she could. She longed for Zach to recognize the extent of her love for him.

She canceled their wedding, which was set for months in the future, and organized a wedding for the following 48 hours.

It was exactly what Zach needed to restore his faith and enable him to keep fighting.

By a miracle of God’s healing, Zach’s condition improved to the point where he could have a bone marrow transplant.

The couple learned that Zach’s cancer had been put into remission after some time had gone.

As they cherish even the most ordinary moments, like waking up next to one another in bed now that he is well enough to go home, the couple is learning a new respect for life’s preciousness.