Surviving cancer is something to be celebrated. Surviving cancer while supported by the love of your life and wonderful doctors also deserves a shoutout. One bride decided to make her big day unforgettable by including her oncologists and having them walk her down the aisle.
Sheri James credits Dr. Van Morris and Dr. Emma Holliday with saving her life. Since her wedding could not have happened without them, she believed their presence and involvement was required. They were all too happy to participate and celebrate with Sheri and now-husband Bill James.
Sheri was diagnosed with anal cancer and received treatment at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from February to April 2021. Bill proposed in January 2023.
"I could not even envision getting married without them," Sheri gushed to GMA. "I often told them, 'You're working so hard to save my life. Why wouldn't I do what you say?' Well, to go along with that, why wouldn't I want to celebrate this life that they have helped give me with them? So, it's almost a no-brainer. They had to be there. I had to ask them."
Dr. Morris and Dr. Holliday were thrilled to be a part of Sheri and Bill’s big day. It was so meaningful for them that she included them.
"As oncologists, we unfortunately are much more likely to get an invitation to a funeral than a wedding. So, this was just such a beautiful and a joyous celebration, and to say it's something that I'll never forget, those words don't even do the feeling justice. It's truly amazing," Dr. Holliday stated.
"It was among the easiest questions I've ever been asked as a cancer doctor by a patient,” Dr. Morris agreed.
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When Sheri first got her diagnosis, she tried to break up with Bill. He did not accept this and instead stood by her throughout her treatments. "I was dating Bill for a little while. And then I got a diagnosis of squamous cell anal cancer,” Sheri recalled. “And I told him, looks like it's time to break up. I'm going to deal with cancer and I think you need to go travel the way you always wanted to. And he refused.”
Sheri and Bill are couple goals, but beyond that they are also a great example of finding hope in challenging times. "I think there's always reason for hope, and I think that Sheri is a great example of that," Dr. Morris mused. “When people are at their lowest, there's always an opportunity to find a positive, even in the most dire of circumstances.”
