Couple With Cancer Moves Wedding Earlier, Wants to go Through Treatment Together

Couple With Cancer ovarian cancer acute myeloid leukemia cell transplant

By Mavic Thompson , Parent Herald Mar 16, 11:13 am

An engaged couple, Clay Slenk and Mariah Nelesen, planned to get married on June 10, but the couple had to move the date to April 9 after learning that they had cancer.

The couple just got engaged on December 26, 2020, and they planned to tie the knot this June. After sending the invites to their loved ones, the bride and the groom were diagnosed with cancer eight days apart, People reports.

A long engagement

The couple was not rushing to tie the knot as they were still in their early 20s. When they sent their "save-the-date" invites, Nelesen, 23, got a call that she had ovarian cancer.

Eight days later, her fiancé, Slenk, received a similar call. Slenk previously had his bloodwork done after suffering from what he thought was pneumonia. He was surprised when his doctor told him to go to Spectrum because he might have leukemia.

Slenk was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, which required immediate treatment. He spent more than 40 days in the hospital, KTLA wrote.

Nelesen also explored her treatment options and began the process of freezing her eggs, just one of the many life-altering choices that the couple faced.

Her cancer treatments could also impact her fertility.

Cancer puts everything in perspective

In early April, the couple chose to move their wedding ahead in time for Slenk's stem cell transplant. They said they moved their wedding date to pursue further treatments as a couple.

Nelesen said that the wedding might not be the wedding they both imagined, but Nelesen admitted that cancer put everything in perspective.

She said that before the diagnosis, she was caught up in planning and excitement for the little details like the venue, food, and the ceremony. Now that they replanned the wedding, she said she threw all the planning out of the window. However, she said that it would be a special day despite everything. She also said, "we're going to have burgers and brats on the grill."

Slenk said he would undergo a stem cell transplant after they tie the knot.

Little time to be angry

Slenk said they spent little time being angry. He said that if he gets angry, frustrated, and negative, all it will do is worsen the day.

Instead, he said they chose to make every day count.

The groom-to-be said that their diagnoses deepened his bond with Nelesen. It made him realize that she truly is the love of his life.

Slenk admitted that it would not be easy moving forward. However, he knows that it would be more meaningful to go through it together. He admitted editing his vows since he learned he had cancer, adding that their bond has grown stronger through the uncertain times.

He said their marriage might have more sickness than health, but he believes it will be alright.

A GoFundMe and CaringBridge page have been created to support the couple's treatment. According to NYPost, the GoFundMe page has now raised more than $35,000.