Posted on 08/25/2009 6:31:21 PM PDT by NRA2BFree
(AP) — PHOENIX - The bride wore white. The groom looked serious.
The chaplain spoke about love conquering adversity. Some in attendance cried.
In many ways, it was a perfectly ordinary wedding.
Except there was nothing ordinary about it.
The ceremony for Timothy Schlappi and Lacey Vollentine took place in room 7-C-29 at Maricopa Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Timothy, who has been in the Navy for 13 years, was part of a parachute-jumping exercise in Eloy on Aug. 10.
He had jumped in the service more than 850 times.
But somewhere between the plane and the ground, something went wrong.
Timothy has no recollection of the accident.
"I collided into a parked car, evidently," he said. "They say I tried to get up."
The crash was violent.
"It didn't look good," said Curtis Larsen, who was also part of the exercise. "It didn't look good at all."
Timothy was flown to Maricopa Medical Center. He had fractures in his right leg and ankle. He also broke some vertebrae in his back, but was not paralyzed. His smashed left leg was the biggest concern.
"He was in very bad shape," said Dr. Sydney Vail, medical director of the trauma surgery service. "We weren't sure he would be able to keep that leg."
Lacey, 25, and Tim, 33, had met when she was in the Navy.
They were engaged, but not in a rush. They wanted to save some money before a wedding.
Lacey was at home in Virginia when she got the call the night of the accident.
The next day, she was on a plane to Phoenix.
(Excerpt) Read more at lehighvalleylive.com ...
This is such a wonderful story. I read it in my local paper and I must admit it brought tears to my eyes. :)
God bless these newlyweds and prayers that he recovers quickly.
God bless these newlyweds and prayers that he recovers quickly.
I totally agree! How could anyone not love to read such a feel good story! The fact that he wasn't killed was an amazing story. Everything seems to be so bad, that I'm ready for some good news, and this one did it!
great story....
Thanks for posting their picture! :)
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