Calgary bride wed in shadow of terminal illness dies of cancer
It was a fairy-tale wedding that touched the hearts of Calgarians.
Micah Repato, whose whirlwind April wedding was triggered by a devastating terminal cancer diagnosis earlier this year, died early Thursday morning. She was 25. Husband Peter Studnicki made the sad announcement on Facebook, posting that his wife died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends.
“We thank you all for your support throughout her journey,” he wrote, calling his wife a “beautiful soul” who was loved by all who knew her.
“She was my love and, most of all, she became my best friend.”
The young couple’s life turned upside down earlier this year when her chronic abdominal pains led to a Stage IV colon cancer diagnosis.
Delivered on New Year’s Day, the grim diagnosis came with doctors telling her the cancer had spread throughout her body, and she only had weeks to live.
Strength and determination, along with tireless devotion from Studnicki, saw her not only surviving those two weeks but eventually returning home.
After Studnicki proposed marriage to Repato in March, local non-profit Wishing Well Foundation threw the couple a lavish dream wedding, thanks to the generosity of several Calgary wedding vendors.
“While her sunny and generous spirit will be missed on Earth, God is blessed to have this angel in heaven with Him now,” read a message posted Friday on the foundation’s Instagram account.
More than 260 people raised more than $17,000 in an online crowdfunding campaign to help pay for her recovery, well exceeding its goal of $10,000.
Proceeds from the campaign will be donated to Young Adult Cancer Canada.