MYAKKA CITY – It’s a fairytale ending so picture perfect it can be its own hallmark movie. Angela and Gary Bergstrom love story is different to all the rest.
When faced with life or death they soon realized that their only chance at beating this hard-fought battle was by having hope. Hope that love would conquer all.
“My name is Angela Horan – “ says Angela to begin our interview as the two sit on porch swing that her new husband assembled in their Myakka City dream home.
“Bergstrom,” Gary corrected with pride in his voice. “Oohh, am I Bergstrom now? Oh shoot. Alrighty – let me – pause, cut…Angela Bergstrom,” she said.
For these two it was love at first sight, but their happily ever after didn’t start off that way.
When the two lovebirds first met on a dating website Angela had already been diagnosed with having an enlarged heart.
Placing her on a transplant list and was given a pacemaker limiting any calls to adventure. That is until Gary entered the picture.
“Think about everything you want to do in life,” said Angela, “That was what we did, that was what we did.”
The couple in love became more appreciative of the time they are able to share with each other, living their lives to the fullest. The two traveled the country and soon after traveled the globe.
Their adventures led them to discover places neither would ever thought they’d get to in their lifetime. But Gary’s commitment to Angela was too powerful to let any cast of doubt or negativity interfere in much of their plans.
“Live like you’re dying whether you’re dying or not,” said Gary. “Live like you’re dying.”
Despite her health concerns the two took life by the horns and lived like there was no tomorrow. An outlook on life that would become their source of hope until Angela received that long-awaited call.
“You have to look forward, you can’t look back,” said Gary.
As fate would have it – in the process of receiving a new heart, Angela would also receive a new member to add to her growing family.
Douglas Vose is the son of Lori, the woman whose heart gifted Angela a new life. Following the transplant operation Doug reached out to Angela hoping a sense of closure would come knowing his mother’s heart lives on – pumping life back into her.
Vose describes the moment the two met for the first time as, “A large glimmer of hope in another wise dark time,” he said.
The two began to plan their dream wedding, which took help from several friends and family members to turn their own slice of heaven deep in Myakka City, into the perfect area to host their wedding ceremony.
Sarasota based wedding planner Michelle Borrero co-owns Precious Moments with her husband Nelson Borrero. The two feel honored to have been chosen to help Gary and Angela plan for their big day.
After all they had waited nearly six years to finally be called husband and wife, so they wanted that day to be as perfect as their union. For Michelle she says seeing the fruit of her labor blossom on Angela’s and Gary’s big day was rewarding enough.
Michelle says nothing was as rewarding than seeing the newlyweds smiling from ear to ear.
“We spent months and months planning this,” said Michelle. “As it was getting closer it was getting so much more exciting, and to actually see everything come together it was just incredible. They’re both humbling people that got a second chance.”
For Nelson his moment came when realizing Angela and Gary had become more than just their clients, they became lifelong friends.
Angela says her wedding day wouldn’t be complete without Doug also walking her down aisle. Their heartfelt connection bringing them together, inspiring others to hope for a brighter tomorrow.
The two thank Lori for giving them the chance to plan out the rest of their lives as husband and wife. Something Vose knows would’ve made his mother happy.
“Being able to do that was inexplicable. Walking my mother’s that’s still beating down the aisle was something I’ll remember forever,” said Vose.
The newly Mr. & Mrs. Bergstrom explain a dream of a better tomorrow only comes with the hope that such a day will come. Hope that the two never lost and a message they share with others.
“If we can show people a reason to have faith and to have hope,” said Gary. “If we can give that to them that’s really all we can give to anybody.”
