WED LIVE! For Better or Worse

Weddings are a time for great happiness (and occasionally great drama). Katie Wahl and Jeremy Johnson demonstrated both and how true love can conquer anything!

Katie Wahl & Jeremy Johnson (Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography)

The bride and her ladies were out for a fun day for her bachelorette party on pontoon boat on Castle Rock Lake in Wisconsin. Katie and another girlfriend dove overboard, she hit the ground and does not remember hitting the ground. She does remember floating face down in the water, trying to hold her breath. Unlucky for Katie is she did some massive trauma to her spinal cord but luckily there were rescue people not to far away who knew what to do to stablize her.

Katie was airlifted to the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison where she underwent six hours of surgery. For recovery, she was sent to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Katie was paralyzed from the chest down and had only partial use of her hands.

But she still wanted to keep her wedding date! Scheduled for two and half weeks later on July 14, 2012.

Jeremy said, “She means the world to me. I’ve been so happy since the day I met her. I can’t imagine not marrying her and spending the rest of my life with her.”

Her parents were concerned and thought that there might be a change of plans but they said that Jeremy, “never blinked” and never waivered in his determination to take his bride as his wife.

The staff at RIC was concerned. Major trauma and in the short time thereafter, there are many conflicting emotions. But they saw that Katie and Jeremy were really committed and in it for the long haul, they too gave their blessing and assisted in making the wedding a reality!

Instead of the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, the wedding was in a conference room at RIC. The hospital’s food service department provided cheese and veggie trays and supplied staffers to serve the cake. A former institute chaplain officiated. Katie’s case manager came in on her day off to make sure everything went smoothly.

Katie said, “It was everything that I wanted it to be.” Jeremy commented, “It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be extremely tough. She’s going to have a disability. It will be challenging. But when it came down to it, we love each other so much. She’s 36. I’m 34. You know it when you meet somebody.”

In the world of the crazy celebrity weddings (and subsequent multiple divorces), we wish Katie and Jeremy a lifetime of happiness! You inspire us.

Mazel tov!

Written by theBrideScoop Editor

Claudia Antony Zompa is Editor-in-Chief of theBrideScoop. All the articles written by me are my own opinions and may or may not reflect the opinions of the other writers at theBrideScoop.

Claudia has been planning events, weddings and far flung vacations around the globe for her friends, family and colleagues since she was in college. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of theBrideScoop, Claudia is owner of Chicago-based event planning company AS YOU WISH focused on creating magnificant weddings, fabulous social events and outstanding galas and fundraisers.

Claudia has a bachelor degree in business administration from Loyola University Chicago and an MBA from The University of Chicago. She is a member of the International Special Events Society (ISES) and the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). She is a Founding Board Member of Wish Upon A Wedding – Chicago Chapter and a Founding Member of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association.

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