Regarding getting married and building a beautiful family, most people start planning early, and Stephanie Agnew was one of them. She had always dreamt of a fairy-tale wedding with a horse-drawn carriage. So dreamy! However, her life completely changed when, at the age of nineteen, she contracted a fatal disease. She was diagnosed with Cone Rod Dystrophy. It is a degenerative eye condition that leads to blindness, and imagine the fear she must have gone through, knowing that she might go blind before even entering adulthood.
It was not limited to this; she also feared that the dream she had been seeing for so long might never come true. What was even more disturbing was how she had also watched her mother go through the same condition. Stephanie expected vision loss much later in life. However, by 23, she could no longer drive, and by 3,0, she relied on a cane.
Her love life was chaotic after the diagnosis, as so many people judged her, and she was aware that acceptance of the diagnosis might never come. For years, she hid the use of a cane, but when she confidently used it, things changed for her! It was unexpected how guys approached her by choice, and wanted to start conversations. Stephanie states: “I knew any guy who approached me could see my impairment, but still wanted to talk to me. It gave her immense confidence, later leading her to meet her soulmate. All these years, she did not realize how her soulmate was living so near, her neighbour, Rob! They met in 206, and the bond they formed was inseparable. Meant for each other!
After her diagnosis, Stephanie’s dreams and perspectives changed significantly, and she was no longer excited about getting married or having a grand ceremony, as she found it useless to spend hundreds of thousands, and still not be able to see it. It broke her heart, but she never expressed it. However, her mother encouraged her to follow her dream and assured her of her support. Stephanie agreed, though; her senses, vocal descriptions coming from people around, and the memory she had before losing sight were all that she could depend on. When choosing a venue, she remembered the mountains near her great aunt’s home, and realized their chosen spot was on the same road. She could picture it from memory.
The biggest hurdle, however, was finding her dress. Without being able to browse photos or see herself in a mirror, Stephanie dreaded the process. But supported by her mom, bridesmaid, brother, dad, photographer James Day, and videographer Sean Tolhoek, who documented the journey, she found a way. Each time she stepped into a dress, her mom was guided to feel its details as the assistants described it. Stephanie touched the fabrics herself, paying attention to texture, comfort, and how each gown moved.
After trying 17 dresses, frustration was building. According to her entourage, every gown “looked good,” but none gave her the spark. Finally, her brother asked the assistant if they had anything special. She returned with a gown described as a “blank canvas” that could be customized. When Stephanie slipped it on, it initially felt like the others. However, after the designer made a few adjustments, the glow on her face showed that this one was meant for her. Her smile was bright, and her face now looked relaxed. Soon, she also expressed her excitement regarding how she had gotten the feeling that this dress was meant for her despite being unable to see it.
Her mother and the designer asked her if she wanted to go for it, and without a second thought, her answer was a big yes. She knew she’d look like an angel in that gown! Everyone else saw her joy instantly. Life is uncertain; however, it depends on how you make it for yourself, whether it is harder or by building a life worth living. Although Stephanie could not see how she looked in the dress, the magic she experienced was unreal. She knew she could trust her loved ones, and on top of it all, her intuition and heart!
