Race to the altar: Dire diagnosis speeds up marriage timeline

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Nancy Nelson says she and her lifetime lover, Robert Major, never considered marriage up until five days ago.

Robert’s cancer diagnosis took a turn for the worse.

Now, their race to the altar has been three decades in the making.

Nancy says one look was all it took.

“It was love at first sight, definitely for me. I can’t speak to him, but he never ran off,” said Nancy.

But like many love stories, 33 years ago life got in the way for Robert and Nancy.

“We ended up separated for 20-plus years by that great distance. We did talk to each other a lot. I visited him, he visited me. So we kept the relationship going but at a way different level. But the love was always there,” said Nancy.

After her parents ed three years ago, Nancy moved back from New Mexico because her heart was still in Aiken.

“I packed up all of my belongings and headed back here and we bought this house together. We live together, we didn’t really talk about marriage. We knew we loved each other and everything was just wonderful,” said Nancy.

But just five weeks ago, Robert’s trip to the hospital became a terminal cancer diagnosis.

“We don’t have a lot of time. Perhaps, maybe we do. I still have faith that something will happen, that God will move a miracle. But we’ve got each other for now and that’s all we need to get through,” said Nancy.

Nancy says the only thing that’s remained constant over the last 33 years is their love.

When Robert went into hospice care, they decided it was time to make their love legal.

“I talked to Robert and I said, ‘Honey, should we get married?’ and he said, ‘Absolutely,’” said Nancy.

Now they are home making the most of each day.

“I accept that we’ve only got a short time together. But we’re gonna make the most of it. I know God is gonna give us the time to make the most of it,” said Nancy.

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