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When Katie Prager was 18 years old, she reached out to Dalton in a Facebook message. They didn’t know each other at all – Dalton actually messaged her back with “Sorry, but do I know you?”
Katie had simply chosen to reach out because she’d seen that he also had cystic fibrosis – just like her.
The two continued to talk to each other and gradually fell in love.
Dalton had always made it clear to Katie that he was infected by Burkholderia cepacia, a deadly and contagious infection for patients with cystic fibrosis. Katie’s doctors warned her to not meet Dalton, lest she contract the infection herself.
But Katie didn’t listen. She told Dalton to come visit her. "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," she recalled. She’d carefully considered the ramifications of her decision and ultimately decided that she was going to take the risk.
Two years later, Katie and Dalton were married.
And Katie’s doctors confirmed that she had been infected by Dalton’s Burkholderia cepacia. They would both need to get lung transplants to survive.
The couple both underwent transplants last year, but both procedures failed.
Katie had to be placed in a hospice in Kentucky, and Dalton was sent to a hospital in Missouri. He had contracted lymphoma after his procedure and would remain close to his family as he fought for his life.
Dalton’s outlook is looking a little better than Katie’s – both are hoping that he can be discharged soon, so he can spend a little more time with Katie.
“If we only get to spend a day and a night together, we'll be happy with that,” Katie said.
Both families are struggling to accept that two of their loved ones may not have much longer to live, but Katie doesn’t regret any of the choices she’s made.
“I don't look back because I can't really change the past. I've had this time with Dalton and so I might as well keep looking forward,” she said.
In the meantime, Katie is simply hoping that Dalton can come visit her soon, and that her family won’t be so burdened with her funeral bills. She has set up a YouCaring page to support her family and beseeches everyone to “just love each other” and do what makes them happy.
