The plan for happiness , eternal marriage
5 min read
The following story may seem like something out of a movie, but it is a true story, a story of two young adults, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For 23-year-old Laura Faganello, her first date with her husband, 25-year-old Brayden Faganello, was while playing mini-golf. The date began with small talk, and she made sure to crack a few jokes "to give the impression that she was funny." However, by the third hole, they were already flirting, laughing, and having a lot of fun.
"At that time, we had already been married for two years," she said.
A tragic event for the young couple
Laura and Brayden Faganello, members of the Victoria British Columbia Stake, were married on July 14, 2016, in the Vancouver British Columbia Temple. Nine months later, Laura suffered a traumatic head injury, losing many of her long-term memories. Among the lost memories were all the memories of meeting, marrying, and falling in love with Brayden.
She was injured in an accident while decorating an event when a large pole fell on her head. “I still remember the noise it made when it hit my head,” said Laura Faganello. “I still remember how it felt. I still have nightmares about it. After that, everyone was fanning my eyes and telling me not to cry. That’s when the fog started rolling in.”
She remembered wandering around the event venue and wanting her parents to come and get her, unaware that they had moved to Brussels, Belgium, three years earlier. Her memories were beginning to fade.
When she received a text message from Brayden Faganello asking how she was, she had no idea she had a husband, but in her daze she simply replied, "I got hit on the head."
“I was working on the exterior of a house about 10 minutes away,” Brayden Faganello said. “As soon as I read that, I dropped my tool belt and ran to my car and went to find her. When I found her, she was very pale. Her eyes were filled with tears, her breathing was rapid, and something looked very wrong.”
Brayden took Laura home and she went to sleep. According to the couple, she did little more than sleep for the two weeks following the accident. In fact, she didn't remember anything from that time.
A wife who did not recognize her eternal companion
She woke up to find Brayden Faganello beside her, casually wishing her "good morning," and had no idea who he was. She said her head was spinning and that she "was in a lot of pain, and needed to throw up."
“On my way to the bathroom, I remember seeing our wedding album on the table and our clothes all mixed up, and I was so confused,” said Laura Faganello. “In my mind, I was 17 and in high school. I had exams to study for. I couldn’t grasp the fact that I was married and living in Canada.”
After several visits to hospitals and doctors' offices, Laura and Brayden Faganello began the slow process of recovery. Laura underwent treatment with Dr. Kate Brookfield, who began assisting with her recovery 15 months after the accident. In an email interview with the Deseret News, Dr. Brookfield said Laura's case is "one of a kind."
“I can’t be married to you”
Although she tried to stay positive and enthusiastic after months of slow progress, Laura hit rock bottom. She felt depressed and trapped and experienced a lack of control because she felt she was facing the consequences, both good and bad, of decisions she didn't remember making, including marrying someone she didn't know.
“I told Brayden I couldn’t be in a marriage I didn’t remember committing to any longer,” Laura Faganello said. “We needed to commit to staying together or we had to go our separate ways.”
A second “first date”
“In January we decided to start dating again. First we became best friends, then we did all the sweet things that people do when they fall in love with each other,” Laura said.
It was shocking; it was really strange to rebuild that connection with her, because I felt close to her, but she didn't. Brayden was especially patient, loving, and kind.
As they went through the dating stage for the second time, Laura Faganello continued to progress. On August 19, Brayden Faganello proposed again, and Laura said yes. She was ready to say yes again because he had become someone she "couldn't imagine letting go of."
The blessings of an eternal marriage
“It has been a slow and patient progress these past few years,” said Brayden Faganello. “There have been numerous miracles over the past few years. Much fasting, many blessings, and many temple visits have led us to see her attain the place we are in today. It all stems from those small, patient efforts.”
“I know our vows were more than just earthly vows,” Brayden Faganello said. “I knew the eternal importance of the commitment we made to each other. Through the difficult times, I held on to that.”
Although Laura Faganello did not remember the details of her wedding, she knew that she had wanted a temple wedding all her life.
“The reason we’re still together is because of our efforts to be more like Christ,” said Laura Faganello. “We were both a little awkward with each other before the accident happened. We had the typical new-couple fights, and we weren’t patient with each other. As we studied our scriptures together after the accident, we’ve implemented every lesson in our lives.”
“Even if something isn’t happening exactly when you want it to, it doesn’t mean He isn’t aware of you,” Laura Faganello said. “I know God is aware of me. I know He saw every tear. He has heard every prayer.”
Laura and Brayden Faganello stated that their faith has been the most important factor in their physical and emotional healing.
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