Getting ready for her big day, Tara Foley from Austin, Texas, couldn’t contain her excitement. She had found the perfect wedding dress and was busy organizing all the decorations and supplies for the celebration. But as the wedding drew closer, her 102-year-old grandmother fell gravely ill and had to go into hospice care.
Tara’s beloved grandmother was 1,300 miles away in Naples, Florida, while she was in the midst of wedding planning. Despite her failing health, Nana expressed her sole wish to survive long enough to attend Tara’s summer wedding. Unfortunately, due to her sickness, she was unable to travel by plane and had no way of making it to the family event.
Tara, deeply aware of Nana’s deteriorating condition, shared her thoughts on Facebook, saying, “Her heart was failing. I knew in my heart she was trying to hang on to get there somehow.” Tara also reminisced about their last meeting, where they shared a heartfelt goodbye. It was a bittersweet moment, as they both had an inkling it would be their final farewell. Nana held Tara’s face in her hands, looked her straight in the eye, and whispered, “I love you very much.”
Twenty-seven days after their touching farewell, Nana passed away. Sadly, she never got the chance to see Tara walk down the aisle with the love of her life, as she had passed away four months before the scheduled wedding day.
However, Tara had a surprise in store for her family. On her wedding day, she unveiled a photo album filled with never-before-seen pictures. As her father flipped through the pages, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He thought the images were too incredible to be real and accused Tara of using Photoshop to alter them.
In truth, Tara and her fiancé had been keeping a secret from the family. They had lied to Tara’s parents, claiming they were going on a business trip to Miami when, in reality, they were visiting Nana for a special treat.
Nana was a remarkable woman, having lived through the Great Depression and staying strong while her husband fought in World War II. Throughout Tara’s life, she admired her grandmother’s fortitude and considered her a role model.
Realizing that Nana couldn’t attend the wedding, Tara decided to bring the wedding to her. She flew to Florida, dressed in her wedding gown, and captured precious photographs with her 102-year-old grandmother.
ABC News featured a report on Tara’s secret photoshoot with her grandmother, who sadly passed away only four weeks after their meaningful visit.
What are your thoughts on this bride’s heartfelt tribute?
