Knoxville couple says I Do after life changing diagnosis
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Knoxville couple says when life suddenly changed, love became their constant.
After a leukemia diagnosis kept them inside CHI Memorial Hospital, they made a decision that felt impossible to wait on.
An officiant announced Robert and Tonesia Landis as husband and wife as family, friends, and staff erupted in cheers inside a hospital room in Chattanooga.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Tennessee, it is my honor and delight to declare you man and wife. You may seal it with a kiss,” the officiant said.
Applause and shouts of joy filled the room as loved ones celebrated the moment.
“Yay. Yay. Whoo,” the room cheered.
The wedding took place inside a room at CHI Memorial Hospital, where the couple chose to exchange vows under circumstances they never expected.
“He is not able to leave the hospital, obviously, so we chose to get married here,” said bride Tonesia Landis.
The couple, originally from Knoxville, met at the beginning of last year and say their connection was immediate.
“I came over to the house because I was interested in one of his friends,” Tonesia said. “His friend was not there, so I spent the whole day hanging out with him instead, and it just clicked from there.”
Groom Robert Landis says he knew early on that she was the one.
“I knew I was going to marry her as soon as I had the chance,” Robert said. “When I had the chance and the money and the funds to get a ring, I wanted something really nice. Nothing fake that was going to fade away, because my love would not fade away either.”
But the year that followed tested the couple in difficult and unexpected ways.
“I mean, we have no vehicle. We have no place to go. Nowhere to live,” Robert said. “We just try to make it, fighting Leukemia, and things start looking up, but every time I do something good, it seems like it goes back down the hill.”
Facing an uncertain future, the couple decided not to wait.
“Tomorrow is not promised,” Tonesia said. “The nursing staff went absolutely above and beyond to make it special for us. One nurse asked me what my favorite colors were and brought flowers the next day. Another nurse bought us a cake. If that was not enough, they made me a homemade veil out of a headband and gauze wrap.”
The hospital room that once held fear and uncertainty became the place where the couple exchanged vows and began their next chapter together.
“Nothing is going to tear us apart,” Robert said. “Nothing. As long as we have this for the rest of our lives.”
Click here if you’d like to support the couple at their GoFundMe.
