The girl in the picture is  Katie Kirkpatrick,  she is  21 .  Next to her, her fiancé, Nick, 23.   
The picture was taken shortly before their wedding ceremony, held on January 11, 2005 in the US . 
Katie has terminal cancer and spend hours a day receiving medication. 
In the picture, Nick is waiting for her on one of the many sessions of chemo to end. 
 




In spite of all the pain, organ failures, and morphine shots, Katie is going along with her wedding  and took care
of every detail. The dress had to be adjusted a few times due to her constant weight loss
 

 


An unusual accessory at the party was the oxygen tube that Katie used throughout the ceremony and reception as well. 
The other couple in the picture are Nick's parents. Excited to see  their son marrying his high school sweetheart.

 


Katie, in her wheelchair with the oxygen tube ,  listening  to a song from her husband and friends  


At the reception, katie had to take a few rests.    The pain did not  allow her to stand for long periods 

 


 
Katie died five days after her wedding day. Watching a woman so ill and weak getting married and with a smile on her face makes us think.....

Happiness is reachable, no matter how long it lasts .  

 We should stop making our lives complicated. 

 
Life is short

Break the rules 

forgive quickly 

kiss passionately, love truly 

laugh constantly 

And never stop smiling

no matter how strange life is 

Life is not always the party we expected to be 

but as long as we are here, we should smile and be GRATEFUL.