The Beautiful Bride.

A beautiful girl, Katie Kirkpatrick, 21, like any girls in this world, she dream of a beautiful life.

But on Valentine’s Day, 2002, she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Undaunted, Katie strove to keep up with her studies, but she suffered another setback in 2003 when she was diagnosed with an inoperable lung tumor wrapped around her pulmonary artery.
Katie held off cancer to celebrate the happiest day of her life. Katie had chased cancer, once only to have it return-to clog her lungs and grab hold of her heart.


The pain in her back was so intense it broke through the morphine that was supposed to act as a shield. Her organs were shutting down but it would not stop her from marrying Nick Godwin, 23,her high school sweetheart and the love of her life who was in love with Katie since 11th grade.
For Katie, breathing was difficult now, she had to use oxygen.Katie is in a lot of pain in the days leading to her wedding taking morphine and numerous medications to help her.Despite all that, Katie took care of every single part of the wedding planning. Niki Kirkpatrick,right, took a leave of absence from work so she can take care of her daughter Katie who now needs constant assistance.
Nick Godwin, 23,(left) who works night shift as a Lapeer County Sheriff’s deputy took Katie to the medical center after a night’s work, three days before their wedding.
He takes a moment of rest while his bride Katie Kirkpatrick, right, gets an intravenous procedure to reduce the amount of fluids her body is retaining at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint on January 12, 2005. Nick Godwin
Her dress had to be adjusted several times due to Katie’s constant weight loss.
They got married at Church of Christ in Hazel Park.
An expected guest was her oxygen tank. Katie had to use it during the ceremony and reception. Dave Kirkpatrick gives the thumbs up to his new son in law while admiring the couple with his wife Niki Kirkpatrick.
Katie gets serenaded by her husband Nick , and his best men during the wedding party on the dance floor at Boulder Point Golf Club and Banquet Center in Oxford, MI, on Saturday January 15, 2005
Katie rests for a few moments during her wedding party. She was exhausted. Her face looked as white as her gown.The pain does not allow her to stand for a long period of time.

Five days after the very beautiful, sweet and historical wedding ceremony, Katie passed away. She did not allow the disease to interfere with her life, to deprive her from hope or faith. She had a beautiful wedding, she loved so strongly and she gave love. And love doesn’t die. That’s how Katie struggled with cancer.

To see a fragile woman dress as a bride with a beautiful smile makes you think, happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts.

” It was wonderful. It was a dream come true. She was the most beautiful angel ever—just caring and selfless, and such an inspiration to everyone. She was always smiling no matter what happened, no matter what news she got. She was as close to perfect as they come.”

- Nick Goodwin