Leeanne Hester and Jimmy Mako met in 2012. They had a long-distance relationship, but their greatest struggle came in the form of cancer. Click through to learn more about their story.
Lydia Campbell/Photography by Lydia
This was Hester during her first year of grad school at George Washington University, giving her dog, Winston, a bath. "I'd say this is the only picture I can find where I look 'healthy,' " she said.
Courtesy Leeanne Mako
During her first round of chemotherapy in December 2013, Mako gave her this Mohawk. "I had him shave my head because it was better mentally to take control and shave my head than pull out clumps of hair," she said.
Courtesy Leeanne Mako
Hester received new bone marrow, donated by an Israeli man named Evgeny Galinsky, on May 2, 2014.
Courtesy Leeanne Mako
One hundred days after her transplant, Hester learned that the new marrow had engrafted successfully.
Courtesy Leeanne Mako
A year after the transplant, in May 2015, Hester celebrated her "re-birthday."
Courtesy Leeanne Mako
When Hester met her bone marrow donor, Galinsky, just before her wedding in April, she was able to introduce him to her lead doctor, Dr. Rebecca Klisovic.
Courtesy Leeanne Mako
Hester and Mako were married April 30 in an intimate ceremony in a historic Ohio church.
Lydia Campbell/Photography by Lydia
At the reception, the newlywed Leeanne Mako persuaded Galinsky to join her for a dance. "Before he went onto the dance floor, Jimmy recalls (Evgeny) giving him a look like, 'Is this OK with you?' " she said.
