Connect How did your love story begin?

He was ready to delete the apps after too many ghosted dates for being Deaf. I was a single mom trying Bumble at 42. He was only my 2nd date—but it felt different instantly. He didn’t mention he was Deaf, but I noticed right away. What struck me was how present he was—turning his chair toward me, asking thoughtful questions, listening deeply. 90 minutes later, we knew: this wasn’t just coffee. It was love after loss, love across difference, and a reminder it’s never too late for a new beginning.

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

Our favorite memories? Spotting each other across a party after drifting off in social butterfly mode—then locking eyes like it’s the first time again. We work side by side, binge shows nightly, travel, laugh until we cry, and still feel butterflies. That moment of reconnecting in a crowd reminds us: we’re not just partners. We’re best friends, biggest fans, and the love we both almost gave up on—choosing each other, again and again.

What would you do with $20,000?

We’d finally exhale—pay off debt (because adulting) and invest in our beautifully blended family. René juggles 5 jobs. I run a photography business + gig work. With 3 kids in college, “rest” feels mythical. But this win isn’t just money—it’s a megaphone. We’d use it to amplify Deaf-hearing love, fight for accessibility, and show that love after heartbreak—and across difference—isn’t rare. It’s real. It’s worth fighting for. 🧏‍♂️ + 👂 = ♥️