When 18 years old Swift Myers, who’s battling
bone cancer, woke up after almost 11 days in an induced coma, he knew exactly
what he wanted to do next: marry his girlfriend of almost two years, Abbi and he
didn’t have to think twice about it.
“I was never kidding,” Swift told the Tulsa World. “I
knew we were always going to get married.”
Swift has been battling
Ewing’s sarcoma cancer for the past 7 years and has beaten it six times.
However, it came back for a seventh time, sending Swift to the intensive care
unit at Saint Francis Children’s Hospital.
“I thought he was joking at first,” Abbi told The
Huffington Post of the proposal. “He’s always joked about it in the past. And
the then he said ‘I’m being serious.’”
Swift asked Abbi’s father for her
hand in marriage on July 22. Two days later, the eighteen-year-old high school
graduates wed in the intensive care unit at The Children’s Hospital at Saint
Francis in Tulsa, Oklahoma in front of family and friends
Friends say Swift’s girlfriend now wife, Abbi
Ruicker, does not leave his side and he wanted to keep it that way. According to
the Tulsa World, Swift proposed to Abbi and they immediately started making
plans, including the hospital and nursing staff every step of the way.
On Sunday, the pair tied the knot in front of
family and friends in the hospital.
"My dad said that it would be an honor to have him as a
son-in-law," says Abbi. "He's the love of my life," she says of her new
husband
Around 100 people crowded into the intensive care
unit for the emotional ceremony.
Family, friends and hospital staff arranged
for a photographer, videographer and flowers for the occasion.
Swift’s high school history teacher, Kendra
Roulet, even purchased their wedding rings a gift.
The ICU lobby was a
tight squeeze for the Myers’ guests, so some attendees waited outside the window
as to not disturb the other patients. About 70,000 people also watched the
couple get married on Facebook livestream.
Abbi was escorted down the aisle by her brother,
Alex, as piano music drifted through the ICU.
"My favorite moment was seeing Swift, he was
smiling from ear to ear," she says. "I had to look away though, because everyone
was crying and I didn't want to cry!"
Swift's future is uncertain,
but Abbi says the wedding has completely changed him – and lifted his spirits.
"He's doing better!" she says. "He's been happier than I've ever seen
him."
Swift and Abbi coincidentally met at the same place they wed.
They were visiting a mutual friend at the
hospital who was battling leukemia at the time.
Since marrying Abbi,
Swift has been moved out of the ICU and into a regular oncology room.
