BUFFALO, NY (WKBW/CNN) – Wedding bells rang earlier than planned for one bride, so her father, diagnosed with terminal cancer, would be able to walk his daughter down the aisle.
For Eleena and Adam Mills, their lifelong bond began at an impromptu wedding – a few weeks earlier than planned and on the opposite side of the country.
The wedding, held in Buffalo, NY, came about after a phone call from Eleena’s mother.
"Last month, we get a call from my mom saying that they think my dad has cancer,” Eleena Mills said.
Angel Borgos’ cancer turned out to be stage 4.
The couple had a California wedding planned, but the diagnosis meant that wedding would have to be without Eleena’s father.
"There's an artery that's surrounded by cancer, which can make his heart stop at any minute, which means he can't fly,” Eleena Mills said.
With some quick thinking and a lot of help from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, a wedding was planned.
Borgos only had to travel down an elevator to walk side-by-side with his daughter and hand her away.
"When I got the announcement of having cancer, I didn't get so broken down than when I heard the announcement that my daughter came here to get married today,” Borgos said.
Eleena and Adam Mills are now legally wed after an exchanging of vows, cutting of cake and a father-daughter dance this family, who put the words “in sickness and in health” to the test, will never forget.
"At least I had the opportunity to dance with her and give her away,” Borgos said.
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