P.A. woman shares bittersweet moment with mom

By Dana Reynolds, paNOW

Lexi Verge is only 19 years old, but realizes already her time with her mother is finite.

Lexi’s mom, Wendy, has pancreatic cancer. She’s fought longer than doctors expected, but the disease forced Lexi to face a painful reality as it began to take its toll.

After an emotional conversation with her mother about the moments the two of them wouldn’t have together, Lexi said a plan was hatched to fast-forward to the future and create memories to share.

With the help of a team of wedding professionals, Lexi brought the bridal shop to her mother’s hospital room and tried on dresses so the two of them could pick one out together.

The Prince Albert mother and daughter’s story has since garnered international attention after it was posted to ellenNation, an online forum run by daytime host Ellen DeGeneres.

Lexi said she’s been overwhelmed by the response to her story.

“I can’t believe how far it’s travelled and how many people have been touched by it,” she said. “I didn’t expect it.”

Lexi said it started with her posting to Facebook to thank those involved in her special day.

She wrote that she and Wendy had planned to come to Prince Albert’s Devotion Bridal, but that her mom got too sick to make the trip. She credited the boutique’s Tammy Davies and Saskatoon photographer Mason Neufeld for coming to the Victoria Hospital to make the day happen. She also thanked Saskatoon’s Fairmaven Floral for providing the bouquet she held in her photos.

Lexi said her Facebook post got picked up by a Facebook page called Love What Matters, which has seven million followers, before it made it to Ellen’s forum.

While Lexi said it would be amazing to meet DeGeneres or appear on her show, her mom remains the person foremost in her mind.

“I finally read [the post] to her because she was ready. It was very emotional for her to hear and for me to read it to her,” Lexi said.

Lexi said she’s put her university studies on hold to spend her time with her mom. She said Wendy doesn’t have the energy to speak much anymore, and while it is difficult to watch her once vibrant mom become weaker and thinner, Lexi said she feels better when the two spend their time together.

During the fitting, Lexi said yes to the dress — choosing a gown that she plans to store until she actually walks down the aisle.

She giggled when asked when the big day was, and replied: “I don’t even have a boyfriend.”

While cancer may rob Lexi and her mom of many moments to come, she’ll always have that day, and that dress.

“I think every girl dreams of picking a wedding dress with her mom.”