Dream come true
We became best friends and started Skypeing and chatting every day and I knew I was falling in love with him,”
KRISTI Hannah (32) and Chris Southers (41) will be celebrating their wedding in a few weeks and for both of them, it truly is a dream come true.
On April 19, 2007, Kristi was shot in her neck, in an attempted hijacking, and underwent treatment in Netcare Union Hospital, Alberton. She was there for 39 days and on the 40th day she was transferred to Auckland Park Rehabilitation Centre where she remained for over six months.
For Kristi and her parents, Debbie and Sean Hannah, as well as the rest of her family, it was a time of extreme trauma, and many changes for them all. Kristi was paralysed from the neck down and underwent daily rehab before she was allowed home to begin a new kind of life.
She never gave up and even though her daily exercises were often painful, she would always try her best in the hope of one day being able to walk again. This was not to be, but still Kristi remained positive and always had a smile.
In 2013 she met Chris through a mutual friend who is an author. “Chris is an author too and we began to chat on Facebook. He also sustained a spinal cord injury so we had a lot to talk about, aside from his books. It certainly wasn’t ‘the boy next door’ kind of relationship because he lives in Virginia, USA. After a while we became best friends and started Skyping and chatting every day, and I knew I was falling in love with him,” said Kristi.
Chris came to South Africa to visit her at her home in Meyersdal in May 2015 and proposed on July 22, while they were on holiday with her parents. “Her dad didn’t make it easy for me though,” laughed Chris, “And I was over the moon when she said yes.”
Their relationship has been tested as Chris has to travel back and forth from America but they both say it’s strengthened their bond. “It’s not easy having a long distance relationship but we love each other and one day soon we’ll be together 24/7.”
Planning their wedding has been fun although a little trying at times, as all weddings are. “One of the difficult moments was choosing the meal,” Chris said, “But we eventually decided on Indian food, so the guests will be tucking into curry and rice with a cold glass of beer, one of our favourite meals!”
Chris’s two daughters and grandmother in Virginia unfortunately won’t be able to attend, but will be joining the festivities via Skype. “My mom, dad, sisters and brothers-in-laws have been incredibly supportive of our relationship,” said Kristi. “We can’t wait for those closest to us to witness us being pronounced Mr and Mrs Southers.”
Chris and Kristi will tie the knot in a small ceremony on March 26, at St Paul’s Church, Mulbarton, with a reception afterwards at the family home.
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