We met when we both matched in northeast Ohio for our respective residency training programs. At the time, Michela was a general surgery resident and Erik, as a family medicine resident, had to spend a month rotating on Michela's service.

What started as friendly breakfasts in the hospital cafeteria quickly turned into something more. While Michela was initially hesitant about dating someone she worked with (or if you ask Erik, she was extremely adamant that she was NOT going to date anyone she worked with), she ended up pursuing Erik anyways because she knew there was something special about him.

She was right! Because 4 years later here we are engaged.

Over the years we have made many memories as we have built a shared life. While our relationship started in Ohio, we have since relocated to Michigan. Michela moved first when she decided to leave her general surgery residency to pursue her passions in education. After nearly a year of long distance, Erik was able to follow and we were finally able to move in together and purchase our first home. Since that time, we have also expanded our family by welcoming a second dog, Boba, to join Sully.

Erik proposed to Michela at Blake's Apple Orchard on October 22, 2022.

Michela thought she was just having a fall fun day with friends when she turned around to see Erik down on one knee in the orchard. She was completely shocked, since Erik was supposed to be six hours away on a family vacation in the UP.

Fun fact: Erik was actually hiding from Michela in plain site ahead of the proposal. He hid in the trunk of her friend's car to ride over to the orchard with them and orchestrate this surprise.

We will be getting married on our 5 year anniversary. We are so looking forward to being married and having all of you there to celebrate our love and our future together.