This story fills the heart with sadness: a devastated bride saw the love of her life die of a fatal blood clot just one hour into their marriage.
The treacherous circumstances make this tragedy all the more bitter. Johnnie Mae Dennis’ wedding should have been the start of happy days in her life, but instead it became a sad farewell to her husband, Thoraz Dennis. The incident happened on Monday in Omaha, Nebraska, during an outdoor wedding photo shoot.
We were in the church and it was a beautiful ceremony. It was the happiest day of Toraze’s life,’ Jewel Robeson, a friend of the bride, told KETV.
Another friend of Johnnie Mae, Monica Miller, said it was the happiest day of Toraze’s life: ‘I could just see the smile on his face and how happy he was.
At 4.35pm, just an hour into the ceremony, Toraze’s heart stopped. Aged just 48, he suffered a fatal blood clot, leaving his new wife a widow.
It happened in seconds,’ said Robeson, who was joined by the couple’s children, family and friends.
Miller added in a fundraising appeal on GoFundMe: ‘Both Johnnie Mae and Toraze planned to spend the rest of their lives together.
Sadly, Toraze took his last breath shortly after saying ‘I do’. Our hearts go out to Johnnie Mae and her children.
Robeson said Johnnie Mae’s friends are now trying to help the grieving widow cope with losing the love of her life after ‘suffering so much’.
She added that the newlywed had dedicated her life to helping the most vulnerable members of her community through her work with a care network for the elderly and disabled.
She was widowed and married in the space of 10 minutes,” Robeson said, appealing for donations to help Johnnie Mae with funeral expenses as well as tasks such as mowing the lawn, clearing snow and other chores in the coming months while she grieves.
Miller added: “We really want to stress that we want to be able to take care of her.
Another friend of Johnnie Mae, Tonja Ross, said Toraze’s tragic death should serve as a reminder to take your health seriously: ‘It is important to stay active in your health so that your happiest day does not become the most devastating day of your life or the lives of your loved ones.
