Connect How did your love story begin?

We met in our twenties, just two friends chasing big dreams—he left for New York to become an EMT, I moved to Turkey to aid refugees. Life pulled us miles apart. Years later, without knowing, we each returned to California. Friends told me he was there, but he knew nothing of my arrival. I walked in, it took one hug, a flood of memories wet my eyes. Proving that love, when true, always finds its way back.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

The day my team of doctors said, “You’re a miracle case.” After three years battling my chronic illnesses, we finally heard the words: “You’re stable.” It wasn’t over, but together we had beaten the odds. That moment captured our strength, resilience, and love. My husband took my hand and said, “Let’s move, your dream is a life of adventure.” We couldn’t go abroad yet, but we started small, moving within California. He’s not just my partner—he’s my forever adventure buddy.

What would you do with $20,000?

With $20,000, we would pay off debt from the years spent fighting to regain my health—time and money we invested in healing. We’d build our savings for stability, finally travel abroad, and support my husband’s goal of advancing his medical career. This gift would bring us closer to freedom, growth, and the adventurous life we’ve fought so hard to build together, taking advantage of the time when my illnesses are “stable”.