A few days ago, we published the tear-jerking story of Dalton and Katie Prager, who had both been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Although there were severe medical risks from being together, it was worth it for the couple, even though they both ending up contracting a bacterial infection that’s incredibly dangerous to individuals with cystic fibrosis. However, Katie knew she’d rather live a short life with Dalton in it than a long one without him, saying, “I told Dalton I’d rather be happy — like really, really happy — for five years of my life and die sooner than be mediocre happy and live for 20 years. That was definitely something I had to think about, but when you have those feelings, you just know. He was one of the greatest people I’d ever met and not many people like Dalton come around so you got to get him while you can.”
Dalton passed away a few days ago from a viral infection and a case of pneumonia following a recent transplant surgery. To make things simultaneously sadder and infinitely more romantic, Katie herself passed away as well yesterday morning, just a couple of days after Dalton’s death. I know, this seems too sad to have not come out of a John Green novel or a sequel to The Notebook, but unfortunately, this is real life. Katie’s mother shared the following story on Facebook.
While I’m glad that Katie doesn’t have to continue in pain without her husband by her side, I can’t imagine the pain and heartbreak her parents are going through. However, if this story touched you and you’d like to help the family in some way, you can donate to Katie’s “celebration of life” funeral ceremony through this YouCaring account set up by her mom. Now seriously, one of you pre-med majors reading this, please go find a cure for cystic fibrosis immediately so I never have to bawl my eyes out to one of these stories ever again..
[via Cosmopolitan]