A cancer patient from Atlanta, Georgia, fulfilled his dying wish to marry his fiancée after doctors told him he only had weeks to live.
Jordan Barrett, 24, was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year. In an attempt to eradicate the cancer, his entire stomach was removed.
While he originally thought he was in remission when his scans came back clear, the cancer returned months later, more aggressive than before. As a result, his doctors told him that he did not have much time left.
By chance, he rekindled his friendship with his longtime childhood friend, Mikayla Thomas, in March, and the pair fell head over heels in love. With Jordan’s tragic terminal diagnosis, they decided to get married as soon as possible.
On Saturday, the loved-up couple tied the knot in front of their friends and family.
‘To your family, I thank you for supporting me and in every decision I have made. I love this man more than life itself and I will always live in his name,” Thomas told DailyMail.com.
Jordan Barrett was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year.
In an attempt to eradicate the cancer, doctors removed his stomach.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Mikayla expressed her undying love and gratitude for Barrett.
“I still haven’t found words to express my feelings or words towards Jordan,” he said. ‘I just especially appreciate her mother, she shares her baby with me every day during this time and I couldn’t respect or thank her more.
‘To your family, I thank you for supporting me and in every decision I have made. I love this man more than life itself and I will always live in his name.’
Thomas said she and Barrett had known each other since childhood, but reconnected in March.
“We’ve known each other since we were babies in diapers, but life brought us together in March,” she said.
“After finding out about cancer, he wasted no time in wanting to make me his forever.”
Jordan Barrett (right), a 24-year-old cancer patient from Atlanta, Georgia, married his fiancée Mikayla Thomas (left) after doctors told him he had weeks to live.
While he originally thought he was in remission when his scans came back clear, the cancer returned months later, more aggressive than before.
The newlyweds are still planning their honeymoon and haven’t quite decided where they want to venture.
At first, Barrett wanted to keep the tragic news of her cancer diagnosis from others to avoid having to deal with the reality of the situation.
‘[The cancer] “It has now spread to multiple locations and we do not have the same treatment options,” Barret said in the GoFundMe description.
“Doctors confirmed last week that we will be moving into palliative care with an expected timeline of 6 weeks until progression has a big effect on me day to day, and 4 months until the cancer wins.”
“This is a devastating process for me and my family, I originally asked my family not to share it, hoping to hide from this reality,” she said in her GoFundMe description.
“But as I processed this news last week, I realized that I need the fullest support system possible for myself and my immediate family and friends.”
He said he has since accepted his fate and wants to make the most of the time he has left.
“I know where I’m going when this time is over and I’ve accepted that. I just want to spend the time I have left celebrating and being with those I love,” he said.
Thomas said she and Barrett had known each other since childhood, but reconnected in March.
“After finding out about the cancer, he wasted no time in wanting to make me his forever,” Thomas told DailyMail.com.
Thomas gave a special shout out to Barrett’s mother: “I especially appreciate your mother, she shares her baby with me every day during this time and I couldn’t respect or thank her more.”
The newlyweds are still planning their honeymoon and haven’t quite decided where they want to venture.
“This is a devastating process for me and my family. I originally asked my family not to share information, hoping to hide from this reality,” she said in her GoFundMe description.
The newly married patient says he wants to check more things off his bucket list before he passes, like going on a honeymoon with Mikayla and one last family trip.
“I realized that I need the biggest support system possible for myself and my immediate family and friends,” she said.
“I have also been reflecting on how to make the best use of the time I have left and the many things I want to experience before this illness impacts my daily life.”
Barrett says she wants to check more things off her bucket list before she passes, like going on a honeymoon with Mikayla and one last family trip.
‘I know where I will go after this time is over and I have accepted that. I just want to spend the time I have left celebrating and being with those I love!’ he said.
Donations to Barrett’s online fundraiser can be made at your GoFundMe.