We Eloped !

Their paths finally converged during their volunteer work at Community Health, a local clinic in Chicago that serves individuals lacking access to essential healthcare. Patrycja has been serving as a Polish medical interpreter for eight years there. However, in 2019, she made the decision to expand her involvement by embracing a dual role within the laboratory. Interestingly, during the same period, Tom joined the clinic as a volunteer, in the pharmacy. While their paths had not officially intersected before, their introduction finally unfolded during a Wednesday evening shift. The setting was slightly challenging, as an issue with a vaccine order was brought to Patrycja's attention by her close friend Raz. Given the frenetic nature of the shift, she approached the pharmacy prepared for a potentially thorny interaction with the new pharmacist volunteer, who seemed to be at odds with the order. Yet, to her sheer delight, she encountered Tom, who not only exuded exceptional charm but also resisted any expectations of confrontation. The unexpected warmth and ease of our exchange left her utterly astonished. Returning to the laboratory, still a bit flustered, her two closest friends, Raz and Angela, sought details about the encounter. In a light-hearted manner, she casually remarked, "that's going to be my man," prompting shared laughter among them. At that instant, it was a playful jest, not carrying much significance. However, in the ensuing months, every time she signed up for Wednesday shifts, she found herself hoping Tom would join too. And when he did, his presence ushered in an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment. For months and months, they kept having these brief encounters until, at last, in December, they embarked on their inaugural date, which stretched into a delightful 12-hour adventure. Their day encompassed brunch, leisurely walks, coffee breaks, a lovely dinner, and culminated in a moonlit stroll through a forest preserve, where they shared their first kiss beneath a starlit sky.

Tom -- I vow to infuse our life with adventure, focusing not just on reaching a destination but on the journey itself. My deep aspiration is for us to lead a life brimming with excitement, a life so abundant in stories that one day, during the golden years of our lives, we can regale our grandchildren with our extraordinary escapades. The stories we'll share won't solely revolve around our journeys to far-off places; they'll also celebrate the connections we've nurtured, the insights we've acquired, and the unexplored depths of our hearts. Patrycja -- I vow to you that I will be your teammate. I will continue to put in work every day so that we fortify each other, and so that we create a beautiful home for ourselves, no matter the physical location. I will be your partner, and you will count on me to never give up on you and to always put you first. *to spare you from bawling your eyes out we will only share one "I vow" each ;)

Hand fasting Slavic tradition - The act of tying a couple's hands together to symbolize their connection and devotion to each other. Reading from our ceremony: As your hands are bound together now, so your lives and hearts are joined in a union of love and trust. The bond of marriage is not formed by these cords, but rather by the vows you have made. For always you hold in your own hands the fate of this union. Above you are stars and below you is earth. Like stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. May these hands always hold each other. May they have the strength to hang on during the storms. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. May they build a relationship founded in love, and rich in caring. May these hands be healer, protector, shelter, and guide for each other.

Both are actively pursuing their careers in the healthcare field. Patrycja serves as a float nurse specializing in women's and children's health at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, while Tom holds the position of Clinical Pharmacist within the Ambulatory Cardiology Clinic at the Ann Arbor VA.

1. Flew into ORD from Poland on the same day in July 2004 2. Attended the same Polish School Prom in 2007 3. Tom did his rotation in the infectious diseases lab at University of Chicago Hospital in the summer of 2017, while Patrycja started working in the Hematology and Oncology lab in the same hospital in October 2017.

1. Ramona Falls, Oregon 2. Mt. Storm King, Washington 3. Ballinastoe Woods, Ireland 4. Sarnia Skala, Zakopane, Poland 5. Hanging Lake, Colorado 6. Vanhook Falls, Kentucky

1. Ireland 2. Mexico 3. Poland

1. Washington 2. Oregon 3. Tennessee 4. Kentucky 5. Mississippi 6. Arkansas 7. Colorado 8. Michigan 9. Wisconsin 10. Louisiana 11. Illinois