Race Against Time: Dying Man Marries At Hospital, Awaits Birth Of Son

ENFIELD, CT — For Michelle Nolan and Joshua Chaffee, love did not happen overnight. They met and became friends a dozen years ago ("at my first job out of college," she said), but it took 10 years before they officially became a couple. About a year and a half ago, they began preparing for the rest of their lives together; they bought and began renovating a house in Enfield earlier this year, and excitedly announced the imminent arrival of Baby Chaffee in July.

On May 22, family and friends threw the couple a baby shower at the Hampden House. After the joyous event, Joshua felt the resumption of a headache which had been bothering him for about a month.

"That day, he couldn't answer any of my questions, and later began vomiting," Michelle said in an exclusive interview Monday with Patch. "We had both been traveling and working on the house, so we thought it could be stress or allergies."

She brought him to Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, where a CAT scan quickly turned a happy day into the worst imaginable nightmare. A mass was found on Joshua's brain, and he was taken to Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, where tests confirmed he was suffering from stage 4 glioblastoma.

"With treatment, he may possibly have a few more months," Michelle said. "Without treatment, he has about four weeks."

After a week of hospitalization, Joshua returned home for about a week, but returned to Saint Francis on June 9. Last Friday, they were officially married in his hospital room by justice of the peace Peter Devine. That set the stage for an unexpected event the following day.

With basically a day's preparation, Joshua's best friend Jay Maffe and members of the couple's families organized an actual wedding ceremony. It took place on the front lawn at Saint Francis, with more than 30 people in attendance, and included a ring exchange and a wedding cake.

"My friends bought some dresses and brought them to the hospital, and they had me get ready really quickly," Michelle said. "I had an idea something may happen, but with maybe 10 people. I didn't know we would be outside; I honestly thought it would be in his room or in a family room."

The baby boy, already named Grant Joshua Chaffee, is due July 19, but may be delivered sooner.

"All is well with his development so far, so they may be able to induce childbirth a little early, in order that Joshua may get to meet him," she said.

Michelle is employed by Collins Aerospace and Joshua is in the medical sales industry, but mounting expenses have caused Michelle's brother Bryan to organize a GoFundMe page to assist the couple.

"Michelle and Josh mean the world to me, but I know are never the type to ask for help. They are the ones who always want to help others instead," Bryan Nolan wrote. "The amount of support we have seen so far in so many ways has made such big impacts already in their lives, but I needed to try and continue that support during this devastating time ... although Josh is insured, there are numerous medical procedures and unforeseen expenses that are not covered by insurance. On top of medical expenses, there are unfinished house projects, a new baby arriving in a very short five weeks and Michelle having to take time now from work, taking away from her maternity leave."

In less than 24 hours, more than $50,000 has been raised via GoFundMe.

"The outpouring of support is overwhelming," Michelle said. "My family is finishing the house project, people have brought food, and now the GoFundMe."

Photos: Rachael Savage Photography

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