The Healing Power of Love: Military Wedding Giveaway Winners Douglas Montgomery and Darya

When we invited people to contribute their stories of love and service, we hoped to get many romantic tales back, but we never anticipated we would get one that included a veritable miracle, but that’s what we got from Douglas Monydoom Montgomery. Douglas is a Gulf-War era Marine veteran who developed multiple sclerosis as a result of injuries he received on active duty. For the last 16 years he has battled his condition, with doctors giving him a bleak prognosis over and over: he would never walk again.

As a result, Douglas, who as a Marine had always been proud of his physical condition and independence fell into despair. He didn’t want to live.

Then, a little over two years ago when he was in the hospital following a severe MS attack, he met Darya, whom he describes as “a shining angel.” She was a neurology nurse, and she would come and sit down by his bedside. At first, it took a while for her kindness to penetrate his depression, but after a while her charming stories and willingness to listen to his complaints about his illness won him over and they became good friends, then more than friends. Although in the nature of his illness he still had good days and bad days, being with her made the bad days bearable and the good days wonderful.

Then he asked her to go with him to the Marine Corps Ball, which he planned to attend in his wheelchair, but a few weeks before is when the miracle occurred. With Darya attending his physical therapy session and encouraging him, he started walking again! Within a week, using a cane and with Darya at his side, he was able to walk at the ball.

Since then, the two have gone everywhere together, only to be asked by many people how long they’ve been married. That was when it occurred to Douglas that maybe they really should get married, so he proposed and she accepted.

His last worry was that because of his disability and limited income he would not be able to give Darya the wedding she deserved, and we are more than happy to take care of that!

Congratulations, Douglas and Darya! We look forward to helping you plan your dream wedding.