They chose to continue loving each other against all odds.
Teenage sweethearts Chase Smith and Sadie Mills realized time is a valuable thing, most especially since time is ticking away fast for Chase.
Chase Smith’s story.
He is a promising athlete- in fact, he was already a nationally ranked swimmer and 6-time state champ when he was just 12 years old. With all the momentum building up, he hoped to be in the Olympics someday to swim for the country.
Unfortunately, his big dreams and high hopes were put to a devastating end.
Back in 2014, this promising swimmer experienced a cramp while he was in a training camp which eventually turned out to be a tumor.
“After that, it went like wildfire,” Chase’s mom, Kelli told IndyStar.
Gladly, he went into remission and that lasted for a little while.
The problem is back, though.
March of this year, his doctor found out that the tumors that he bravely fought when he was 13 were back again. He has one on his shoulder, one on his lung, one on his back, and another on his hip. This broke him and his entire family’s hearts and hopes into smithereens once again.
When Chase experienced extreme head pain a month after, things just got even worse. They found tumors all over his skull and in the fluid of the lining of his brain.
The worst of all these, his 6-years-long battle with Ewing’s sarcoma would most likely end his life, he was told he only had 3 to 5 months left to live.
That’s when Chase and Sadie decided to get married.
Most parents would say they’re too young to be a married couple. This case, however, was entirely different. Chase’s dad knew things would eventually come to this.
“He said, ‘I can tell in your demeanor that you’re going to marry Sadie one day,’” Chase said. “‘I want you to know if that’s going through your mind right now, your mom and I support you 110 percent.”
And when he was about to tell Sadie about his plans, she stopped him and said:
“I know exactly what you’re going to say,” she told him. “I wanted to tell you the same thing tonight.”
Their families gathered together for dinner and discussed the wedding details.
They all shed tears while talking about the predicament that their relationship had to go through. Sadie’s dad told Chase how he changed their daughter’s life for the better and how he inspired Sadie to be the best version of herself.
And in just a matter of 4 days, they planned a simple wedding for the 2 lovers.
A fairytale-like love story that they hoped to have a “happy ending.”
They tied the knot on April 29th.
With their loved ones as witnesses, the two exchanged their vows in the same place where they had their first kiss.
They promised to spend the remaining time that they have left together as husband and wife, and of course, putting their highest faith in God above all.
“The most important thing in my world at this point is spending time loving and laughing,” Chase said. “Just living life to the fullest and loving every moment.”
Everything that he wished and hoped for became possible because of Sadie, his beloved wife.
When they’re told that they only did it because of Chase’s health condition, he knew God has a more meaningful reason why it happened.
“A lot of people do say, ‘Oh they’re getting married because he has a potential to pass away soon,’ and that’s not at all why we decided to get married,” she told PEOPLE. It was more of just a wake-up call that, ‘Hey, God wants you two together.’”
They’re not after fame, they just want to let the world know that life is a sea of experience, good and bad.
It wasn’t about going internet famous, it’s about telling his story of hope, faith, and love.
“The precious people in your life, the amount of time they are in your life, take every moment you have. Enjoy and give everything you can in those relationships,” he said. “And know there is so much possible with love when your love includes God.”
Back in August, Chase was able to attend the renaming/dedication ceremony at his old high school. The Indian Creek High pool is now the Chase M Smith Natatorium.
Sadly, from a GoFundMe update in September, it looks like his cancer continues to spread and is causing him extreme pain. However, he’s also past the 5 months given to him, it’s still something to celebrate and to be thankful about.
Time is more precious than gold for some people, just like Sadie and Chase who are still fighting a battle and proving their wedding vows to be together “in sickness and in health.”
