Shon walked into Kettering Medical Center’s lab in September of 2015 as a young and not-yet-jaded student. Little did he know, he would lay eyes on someone who would change his life forever.

While Jackie did not pay Shon much attention as a student, in early 2016, she slid into his DMs to let him know there was an open position at KMC. Shon applied and got the job—he was set to join Jackie as a coworker in May. That spring, Jackie's girlfriends had decided it would be fun to play co-ed softball in the summer. Jackie, unaware of Shon's athletic “talent” at the time, decided to ask her soon-to-be coworker to play. Some days he still regrets saying yes, but there may have been other motives involved...they became good friends over the course of the summer.

At work, Jackie would sit at her lab area and secretly watch Shon flip his hair, daydreaming about making him cut it. Shon quietly wondered how Jackie could make a lab coat look so good. After a few official dates, in September of 2016 Shon asked Jackie to be his girlfriend.

Jackie and Shon stayed very professional at work and "secretly" dated until eventually getting approval from HR after about a year. Some coworkers were surprised, while others claimed they knew it. Shon and Jackie were simply happy to no longer need to lie to their coworkers. Eventually though, Jackie grew tired of the coworker life and strongly suggested that Shon go find another job. Shon transferred to a night shift position at Soin Medical Center which made Jackie regret her life choices, but their love proved strong enough to make it through until Shon moved back to day shift.

In July of 2017, Jackie's dad, Gene, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Shon officially moved in with Jackie and her parents to better help take care of him in July of 2018. They were incredibly involved in his care and were devastated with his passing in January of 2019. The next month, they dedicated a run in a Disney half marathon to him.

October 2019 brought hopes of a busy weekend for "Sweetest Day." Jackie knew by the squeak in Shon’s voice that something was up, though. She immediately ran to the nail salon. On October 20th, Shon finally got down on one knee at Schappacher Farms in Wilmington, Ohio, a pumpkin patch that Jackie’s dad had often taken her and her family to.

Jackie and Shon have not really enjoyed the challenges presented by planning a wedding during a pandemic, but that will not stop them from having the wedding of their dreams and sharing it with their closest family and friends. January 2nd is an important date to the bride as she will be sharing an anniversary date with her Grandma and Grandpa Rhodes, whose relationship she grew up adoring.

#NewYearNewJergens

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