I first met Crystal on August 16, 2016. It was by pure chance that we were placed in the same module for the next two years of medical school. It’s incredible that we hadn’t met before as we both had significant overlap in our friend groups during our time in Norman. It’s also incredible that we were starting medical school at the same time as Crystal was a full three years younger than me, but after the way things worked out I suppose you could say it’s just positive reinforcement for my sometimes slacking ways.

Crystal and I started spending time together pretty early. We had a uniquely social module, and, despite the fact that Crystal was still too young to order a beer, she would nevertheless join us at the bar for the trivia. Medical school continued, and we would see each other all the time from studying in the module to volunteer work and, of course, trivia nights. During the second year, we spent increasing amounts of one-on-one time studying for boards. Finally, after countless hints and teasing from our peers in April of our second year, we knew the time was right.

Early on, the benefits were obvious. Crystal no longer had to tolerate a cat dander-infested household in the middle of the Oklahoma City forest. I got to enjoy the benefits of a 6-minute commute to campus. Life was good as we tackled the rigors of medical school, took and passed boards, and began clinical rotations. Along the way, we made time for dates and took trips to Tulsa, Dallas, Denver, and the Oregon Coast.

Things were going well leading into our final year of medical school, but the looming challenge of applying for residency added new pressure. For those not familiar, the residency process involves programs selecting you just as much as you’d like to select the program. Once you have entered the “Match”, the contract is binding. We talked about the process many times but ultimately decided that at this point it was best to prioritize our careers, accepting whatever outcome unfolded, though, of course, fervently hoping that our top choices would align.

To take a break from the stress, what better than to embark on our first international adventure—“Kia ora, mate!”—a trip to New Zealand. Of course, unbeknownst at the time, it would be their last big trip as a couple for some time. By March 2020, the world had changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Match Day came and went, bringing the bittersweet reality that Crystal would be heading to Chicago while I stayed in Oklahoma for a year before relocating to Albuquerque. We knew this would be a new challenge and it would take some time to adapt to our new life apart.

After a final road trip together from Tulsa to Chicago, it was time for me to return to Oklahoma, and to begin our long-distance relationship. Through countless Zoom calls, flights, and messages, we persevered. Even amidst the challenges, life moved forward. A year later, I transitioned to Albuquerque, and we both worked hard and excelled in our training. We made time for visits and trips to places like Charleston, Oregon, Denver, Michigan, San Francisco, and Boston, each strengthening our desire to one day reunite.

In 2023, while planning a trip to Milwaukee, I told her, “I’m planning some things for us in Wisconsin.” Normally, Crystal and I have an unspoken agreement that plays to both of our strengths. I get us to where we are going and find a place to stay, and Crystal figures out what to do when we get there. After I told her I wanted to plan things for us to do but didn’t offer more details, she immediately sensed something was about to happen.

I tried to throw her off the scent by doing our normal routine of breweries and restaurants. Then, in the middle of January, Crystal found herself 60 feet in the air, strapped into a harness on a zipline course. “This can’t be it,” she thought. “There’s no way he’d bring the ring here.” But an hour later, on the shores of Lake Geneva, I was on one knee asking Crystal to spend the rest of her life with me.

After an enthusiastic “yes” and a joyous celebration, life returned to its usual pace. Crystal finished her tenure as a pediatrics resident and chief resident. She then matched into fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics, while I decided to specialize in Neuroradiology and pursue a fellowship closer to Crystal. Our stars aligned when I matched at Northwestern Hospital, allowing us to continue our training together in Chicago.

After years of navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship, we’re finally at the cusp of closing this chapter and beginning a new one together. It hasn’t been easy, but every moment of distance has increased our love and commitment to each other. Now, as we look forward to a future without the miles between us, we’re filled with excitement and hope for what’s to come, especially as we prepare to take the next step in our journey by getting married. We hope that you’ll join us in our celebration, and we look forward to the road ahead.