A Connecticut love story has grown more challenging and more beautiful as it progresses.
Lisa Marshall first met her husband, Peter, years ago. The two were both newly divorced and lived across the street from each other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 2001. They began dating, but Peter eventually had to move to Connecticut for his job as a compliance manager for a financial company. Both were parents, with five children between them.
"We had a long-distance relationship for eight years because neither one of us wanted to uproot our children," Lisa told The Washington Post. "But after my youngest went off to college, we decided to get married."
The two married in August 2009, but after seven years, their vows were put to the test. Peter was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, among just 10% of those with the illness who are diagnosed before the age of 65.
In 2017, Lisa began to notice that Peter was struggling to find the words to finish some of his sentences. In 2018, Lisa took Peter to a neurologist for some tests, and the results showed that he had early onset Alzheimer's.
"Before his diagnosis, I always thought that Alzheimer's was an old person's disease," she said.
"Now I know better."
By January 2019, Peter's condition progressed to where he could no longer work. The following year, Lisa took on being his caregiver full time. It was hard for her, but she coped by sharing her experiences in a Facebook blog.
"It's been devastating, but I've done my best to stay positive and focus on one day at a time," Lisa shared.
"My mantra has always been to have no regrets."
In January 2021, Lisa began to notice Peter's decline was getting faster. It was 20 years after the two first started falling in love. It made Lisa consider something Peter had brought up to her the month prior.
Peter and Lisa were watching TV together late last year when there was a wedding scene on TV. He looked at Lisa and said, "Let's do it!"
"Do what?" she asked.
He pointed to the TV, so she asked if he wanted to get married. He said yes with a huge grin.
Lisa's daughter, Sarah Brehant, encouraged her mom and stepdad to renew their vows. Sarah runs a wedding planning business, so she was able to organize the whole event.
"I knew that my stepdad, who I am very close with, was there through some of the toughest times of my life," Sarah shared.
"He means so much to me, and my mom is my best friend, so I was proud to be able to take on such an important role."
Sarah worked with a dozen vendors to put it all together in just six weeks. The vendors were all touched by the story and volunteered their services. Sarah was able to walk Lisa down the aisle and to Peter on their April 26 vow renewal. Adrianne DeVivo, a dementia specialist at Hartford HealthCare who helped Lisa set up a care plan for Peter and happens to be licensed to perform weddings, officiated.
The ceremony was very emotional. "It was just magical — straight out of a fairy tale," Lisa said.
"There wasn't a dry eye, and I was over the moon. I hadn't seen Peter that happy in a long time."
Sadly, Peter's condition has continued to rapidly decline. He doesn't remember the vow renewal ceremony from weeks ago, nor does he remember their original wedding day. Lisa gets reprieve a few hours a week when Peter goes to adult day care, but otherwise it's often she who helps him through his day-to-day tasks.
Lisa is aware that he will soon need round-the-clock care at a live-in facility, but she's not ready to think about that just yet.
"One day at a time," she said.
"I don't know who I am to him now, but I know that he definitely loves me and feels safe. When the bus brings him back home each day, we'll sit on the porch for an hour and hold hands."
