By Brooke Curley
brooke@gilavalleycentral.net
SAFFORD – A Christmas wish has turned into a Christmas miracle as the Gila Valley community has rallied to help one woman’s wedding hope come true.
With her father battling cancer, one Safford woman asked for the community’s help to make a wedding come together quickly so that her father could walk her down the aisle.
Taking to social media with a small hope that she’d find some support, Amanda Holverson told Gila Valley Central that she was amazed at the generosity of the local community. Holverson’s story starts out with the devastating news that her father is battling prostate cancer and will likely not survive. Knowing that her father’s health would most likely deteriorate soon, Holverson’s wish was to have her father walk her down the aisle.
Contributed photo/ Courtesy of Amanda Holverson: Holverson’s father shows his granddaughter how to rock hound using a flashlight.
“The first time I got married I eloped and no one knew I was married until I came home, so my dad never had the chance to walk me down the aisle,” Holverson said. “So, me wanting that, as every girl does, I decided to plan a quick wedding ceremony before his health declines anymore.”
With the big day looming Jan. 27, Holverson said she didn’t expect such a generous outpouring of sympathy and help from the local community.
“When I asked I honestly didn’t think I would get the responses that I did. I’m from Mesa, where everyone is out for themselves,” Holverson said. “So far, I have had a few people offer cake toppers, table covers, chair covers, sashes, centerpieces, (and) other decorations, as well as a few offers to let me borrow dresses.”
Holverson’s mother has irritable bowel syndrome and dislikes traveling distances. Because of this, Holverson must take everything to Mesa for the big day. However, she has a truck and is willing to make the drive with her decorations in tow for the wedding. The distance notwithstanding, all she truly wants is for her father to be able to walk her down the aisle.
“The outpouring from this community has been amazing. I don’t know how many times I’ve cried over it,” Holverson said. “I just want him to be happy, and to see all that he can while we still have him.”
At this point, Holverson said what she still needs for her small wedding are tables and chairs. She expects to only invite 45 people at most and said it won’t be anyone’s dream wedding. However, all this effort is for a hardworking man to be able to walk his daughter down the aisle.
“He worked his rear off his entire life. And I love him to death. I honestly can’t think about losing him,” Holverson said. “He just lost his uncle a few months ago to the same type of cancer and they gave him a year even after doing treatment after treatment.”
So far, Holverson has a month to go until the wedding day. The small miracle wedding is still being put together, and contributions are still most welcome. If anyone is interested in helping Holverson, you may contact her by email at amandah85204@gmail.com.
