The loving parents of a little girl who lost her battle with cancer just months ago, will fulfill her last wish as they prepare to wed in Boston after more than 18 years together.
John and Michelle Savage from Glanmire lost their beautiful daughter Alisha on January 24 last, a year after uprooting their lives and moving to Boston in search of a cure for her rare brain
tumour.
Michelle had promised the four-year-old that she could wear a pretty dress for the special day as she resided in the Dana Farber Institute in Boston.
John had initially popped the question to his now fiancée when she was just 21 years old. However, they believed their lives had fallen apart when their first child Christopher was stillborn soon afterwards.
Alisha pictured with her with her mum Michelle, dad John and little sister Emma-Louise
“We thought we had it all and were looking forward to everything from having that special meal on our wedding day to renting a home and being a family,” said Michelle. “But things changed when our lives came crashing down around us.”
Nonetheless, the couple’s love for each other helped them through the difficult period and they were later granted a blessing in the form of baby Alisha.
“In Boston I used to tell Alisha that we were going to have a wedding and she would wear a beautiful princess dress. There was always a huge beam on her face when talking about it. Now, she will finally have her princess dress,” said Michelle.
John and Michelle were initially travelling to Boston to acquire the postmortem
results after Alicia’s death. However, they have now decided to tie the knot there as well on September 11 so they can feel closer to their little girl.
“My firm belief is that Alisha entered that Boston hospital in body and left with me in spirit,” Michelle said.
“I know that when the day arrives Alisha will be with us wearing her princess dress, but there will be no pain and no needles. I always said that when I got married I wanted Alisha to be at her best and at least I know now that she will be. This will be the day that we close the door on Alisha’s cancer and tumours so that she can be happy in Heaven.”
The colour scheme at the wedding will be purple and gold in acknowledgement of Alicia and the Childhood Cancer Society.
“Gold is the official colour of the Childhood Cancer Foundation and Alisha’s
favourite colour was purple. We don’t care what happens on the day as long as Alisha and Christopher are part of it.”
John and Michelle will wed in an emotional ceremony in the City Hall of Boston, with friends and their two-year-old toddler Emma Louise who will sport a special princess dress for the event.
They will continue their celebrations at home with an event in the Maryborough Hotel for families and friends in late September.
“Of course we will always be heartbroken over losing Alisha so there is mixed emotions about the day itself but we are looking forward to seeing what magic Alisha has in store for us as we know she is guiding us,” added Michelle.
Michelle hopes that the wedding celebrations in Cork can bring some comfort to her family.
“I know my family are looking forward to it as they haven’t seen me dressed up in a while, given everything that we went through. Alisha loved her style and before she got sick she had been like mini-me with all her girly dresses. She was an old soul and ever since Alisha was born we were best buddies. We believe there is a lesson in our story. Shutting the blinds and giving in to the darkness is not how Alisha would have wanted us to live. We will never let go of Alisha but we will let of the cancer and suffering.”
Michelle extended her gratitude to the people of Cork and beyond who she said have carried her over the last few months with their kind gestures and messages.
“A number of people posted photographs of themselves wearing purple nail varnish including male staff of Cork City and Limerick Fire Brigade to Alisha’s page to mark what would have been her fifth birthday,” said Michelle. “She loved purple nail varnish so this was how everyone decided to pay tribute to her. We will never be able to describe just how much these little things mean to us.”