Their story began at Lakeland Regional Health on the palliative floor. Ironically, although Gerard and Nallelie worked in the same hospital, they worked opposite schedules and never actually met. If it were not for Shannon doing a little behind-the-scenes matchmaking (thank you, Shannon), their paths may have never crossed. Their first date took place at Armature Works in Tampa, and Gerard had already created a backup plan before the night even started. If the date did not go well, he could leave after dinner and never speak to Nallelie again. But if the date went well, they would continue the night upstairs at M.Bird. Long story short… they went to M.Bird. Not long after, Gerard brought Nallelie his mother’s homemade mac and cheese on Thanksgiving for one of their next dates — a risky move that thankfully paid off. She loved it. (Thanks Mom.) From there, their relationship quickly blossomed into something special. As time went on, they naturally became part of each other’s everyday lives. Their families grew close, their friends became shared friends, and they built a relationship centered around God, love, laughter, support, and adventure. Gerard turned Nallelie into an airport lounge, TSA PreCheck, and Global Entry-loving traveler always ready for the next adventure, while Nallelie somehow transformed Gerard into a proud 6’3” dog dad to two spoiled Shih Tzus, Algernon and Uno. Through busy schedules, milestones, challenges, celebrations, and countless memories together, their relationship continued to grow stronger. More than anything, they became best friends, always choosing each other through every stage of life. On July 31st 2025, Gerard proposed to Nallelie at the beautiful Survival Beach in Puerto Rico, creating one of the most meaningful moments of their lives together. It was the easiest “yes” Nallelie had ever given. Now, they are beyond excited to celebrate the next chapter of their story surrounded by the people they love most. Thank you for being part of their journey, they cannot wait to celebrate with everyone in Puerto Rico.