DALLAS — A Grand Prairie woman who cancelled her planned wedding to focus instead on the life-and-death battle of her breast cancer fight, finally got the wedding of her dreams thanks to wedding professionals who hope to make their gift an annual tradition.
We first told you about Nikitia Ferguson earlier this month. Diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer she endured six months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and multiple reconstructive surgeries.
She and her fiancé Fred Morris decided to cancel their wedding so that they could focus emotionally, physically, and financially on the cancer fight that lasted more than two years.
But Rebecca Hackl and the Society of Wedding Professionals found out about Nikitia. And they found out that in her two-year cancer fight that Nikitia started her own non-profit called “Kindred Angels.” And that in addition to sharing her story, her journey, and her hospital visits online, she also delivered more than three dozen gift boxes to other cancer fighters.
"I just try to be whatever support I can be to others battling the same road,” she told me.
So, the Society of Wedding Professional decided that if anyone on that road ever deserved a free wedding it was Nikitia.
And Sunday afternoon at the Hidden Creek wedding venue in Heath, the Society of Wedding Professionals did just that.
Surrounded by family and friends Nikitia in a sequined white wedding gown and wearing white tennis shoes, descended a second floor staircase, her tears flowing again. She and Fred finally exchanged their vows. Nikitia stopped to compose herself only once – when the pastor had her recite the portion of the vows about “in sickness and health”, a portion of the vows that mean more to her than most people can understand.
"To love and to cherish for as long as we both shall live,” she said. “This is my solemn vow."
But when the crowd laughed as Fred used the pastor's handkerchief to dry Nikitia's tears, and when they were officially presented as husband and wife, Nikitia’s tears became tears of joy. The party they'd waited two long years for could finally begin.
"It's like a dream,” Mrs. Nikitia Morris said. “And all I can say is I'm so grateful to God. Because my road's been long. But if this was the end of it, I'm glad I made it."
"It has just been the best experience for all of us. And we’re in love with it,” Rebecca Hackl said after the ceremony. The Society of Wedding Professionals plans to make the gift of a wedding to a deserving couple an annual tradition.
We found out Fred doesn't like to be interviewed. But he does like to dance. And as the party extended into the night, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Morris were beginning their dance through life together, through sickness and health, to wherever their road takes them next.
"I couldn't even have imagined a day like this,” Nikitia said. “You know it still feels surreal. And maybe it'll feel real tomorrow. But I'm just thankful to God for today."