Sarah (Neeush) and Nicolai met at the University of Washington Medical School in 2017. Specifically, at pre-orientation, where Nicolai scanned the room and decided that the table where Sarah was sitting seemed like a good option 😉. Despite his best efforts, Sarah had a serious expression and appeared immune to Nicolai’s charming questions and hilarious jokes. Later, she would explain that she was both shy and wanted to take her first day of medical school seriously (it was the pre-first day, after all). This put things on a brief hold. However, one day after class, Nicolai successfully complimented her fashion choices, and the courtship resumed. They started walking together after class, going to the gym together, and eventually began sitting together during lectures (though this proved to be somewhat distracting). Their first of many dates was on New Year’s Eve when Nicolai brought flowers and picked her up to take her out to dinner. Soon after that, they would spend nearly every day together—mostly in the library or in cafes with earplugs and noise-canceling headphones to focus on memorizing anatomy, physiology, medications, diagnoses, etc. Sometimes Nicolai would take Sarah to study at dive bars and music venues around Seattle, where he had played music before starting school. On these days, she made sure to bring her ‘study visor’ to minimize distractions. As their relationship grew, they were faced with a dilemma: UW would force them to spend their 3rd and 4th years apart doing clinical rotations in different states unless they agreed to enter a lottery to be sent to a ‘rural’ medical setting together. They ranked Missoula, Montana, high on the list and ended up living there together while completing medical school. In many ways, this time sealed their future together. They hiked, backpacked, skied, floated, fished, bought their first Christmas tree together, and enjoyed small-town life. They listened to 24-hour Grateful Dead radio in Sarah’s dad’s car, which he had lent her for Missoula winters. When it came time to apply to residency, they applied as a “couples match” and moved to San Diego. Here, the 80+ hour work weeks, night shifts, and many weekends apart were both a struggle and something that bonded them and helped them grow stronger together. Throughout the years, they’ve always agreed that when life branches, they would make a conscious effort to grow together—and they’ve done that throughout residency. They promised each other they would find a way to prioritize time off together to build a life full of family, friends, travel, and kids. They plan to buy a sailboat and spend years sailing the world. Keeping with that plan, Nicolai proposed to Sarah on a sailboat off the coast of San Diego—and she said yes! They would be honored for you to join them at their wedding in Palm Springs at Villa Royale on May 2nd for a full weekend of celebration and togetherness. Love, Sarah and Nicolai