June 21, 2016 at 8:11 a.m.
'Cancer kills, but love heals': After 40 years apart couple ties the knot
'Cancer kills, but love heals': After 40 years apart couple ties the knot
By Kayla Thomason-
"(Bob) said that she had this angelic glow around her and that she was a hippie chick with hair down to her butt," relayed Denise's daughter Megan Rheaume-Brand. "They got together and for part of that first year they had a long-distance relationship as she went to UW Stout for her bachelor's degree and he went back to South Milwaukee."
The couple broke up in 1971 but reunited the same year. They then moved to an off-campus apartment near UW-Milwaukee.
In 1976 they tired of Milwaukee and moved to Minocqua.
"We broke up for the final time in 1979 because we were both young and immature," Denise said.
They lived separate lives, getting married and divorced in the time between 1979 and 2015 when fate brought them back together.
Denise remained in the Rhinelander area, working at Headwaters from 1980 to 2007. She was a member of the Oneida County Fair Board for approximately seven years and has served on the board of directors of the Rhinelander Historical Museum.
She also made costumes for Nicolet College productions and for Tommy O's Playhouse in Hazelhurst.
Up until recently she worked for the Lac du Flambeau Headstart.
"In June 2015, Bob was taking a taxi back to live in the Rhinelander area, and while he was talking to the driver, he mentioned that I lived there and he had been pining after me all these years," she said. "All he could talk about was me and the thing he regretted the most was losing me."
What Ceplina didn't know was he was confessing his love story to an associate of his beloved.
The taxi driver told Denise that her old flame was back in town and wanted to see her, but it took about four months of consideration before she decided to take the plunge.
"I finally went to his apartment and left only my name and number on a sticky note on his door," Denise said. "The next day he called me, came over to my house and while we talked he worked on detailing and fixing my Victorian door with me."
The couple enjoyed several months of bliss, until October 2015 when doctors drew blood for a routine surgery and discovered Denise had acute myelogenous leukemia.
Undeterred, Bob proposed on Valentine's Day 2016 and Denise happily accepted.
"Something deep inside me said he was the right one and to give my whole heart," she said.
In March, Denise underwent a stem cell transplant, which was successful, but she developed severe graft-versus-host disease, meaning her immune system was attacking the cancer and her body.
Around Mother's Day she was so ill that the family was unsure how much time she had left.
"We thought we were going to be planning a funeral," Bob said.
"I called family and friends to prepare for the worst," Denise added. "I wanted them to take care of Megan, Bob, and my cat and dog. When it was at its worst, the doctors told me I had a huge part in my recovery or death. I decided to make the choice to fight to live. This whole time, my friends and family have rallied around me with encouragement, support and love."
Bob doted on his fiance and was "constantly reassuring her that he will never leave and that 'I always have, always will' (love her)."
"So that same weekend that she was at her worst in health, Bob said he noticed the light coming back into her eyes as he fed her ice chips and told her she couldn't leave yet," Rheaume-Brand said. "And that's when she started to drastically improve. It's just crazy how fast she improved, really. I truly believe it is a miracle! A couple weeks ago, she could barely lift her own body up, and now she's cruising down the hall with the amazing help of the nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists."
Originally the couple was going to wait until summer to wed, but with an uncertain future they decided they had waited long enough. May 18 was to be the big day.
Denise's doctor, Walter Longo, suggested they get married at the UW Carbone Cancer Center where Denise was being treated, and her favorite nurse, Tenzin Lhamo, told the nurse manager, Vicki Hubbard, that the couple wished to marry at the hospital.
"It took two weeks to plan, with the dedicated, passionate work of hospital catering staff, nurses who decorated to the T and made bouquets," Rheaume-Brand said. "Tenzin, who bought her wedding dress and shoes, her good friend Cheryl who brought her another bouquet, her sister and brother - the one who donated his stem cells to save her life - read a verse from the Bible while he took photographs as well. Tenzin read something from the Dalai Llama (The Paradox of our Age). I wrote a speech entitled 'A daughter's wishes for their marriage,' and other staff (got) involved in other ways. The hospital's photographer even offered his expertise as a photographer for the wedding, and the gift shop coordinator volunteered to play her harp. It was all so crazy how fast and well it came together. Father Andy from St. Andrew's Episcopal church did the vows, blessed the rings, and ministered their marriage."
Denise's friend Cheryl also performed an Eagle healing song on a hand drum.
At the beginning of the ceremony Bob thanked everyone who helped put the wedding together and who attended their big day. According to Rheaume-Brand, there were very few dry eyes.
At the end of the ceremony the new Mrs. Ceplina thanked everyone and "came up with her inspiring motto: 'cancer kills, but love heals,'" Rheaume-Brand said.
"Everyone we loved and who could be there - including Denise's very good friends all the way from Burnsville, Minnesota just for the day - were there, and we even inspired other patients who watched the wedding from the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors (of the hospital)," she added.
"It's an unusual story that will touch a lot of people and comfort and inspire others," Denise said.
Since the wedding, the couple has received more wonderful news: Denise is in remission.
However, medical bills are high, some of her medication costs $1,000 a month, and as she is no longer able to work. They have set up a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme. com/hopelovedenise.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla @rivernewsonline.com.
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