It was the summer of 2018, just before Megan and Declan’s senior year of high school. Although they had attended school together through parts of middle school and all of high school, they had never really interacted. In August, while Megan was hanging out with a friend, she learned that Declan’s family had found a litter of kittens on their property. Although Megan and Declan had never formally met, her friend knew him, so the two girls decided to visit and see the kittens. They instantly hit it off, sparking a connection that soon made them inseparable. With homecoming approaching, their friend suggested that Declan ask Megan to go with him. Instead, Declan asked her to be his girlfriend before homecoming even arrived. They dated throughout their senior year and attended prom together. But soon, a big change was coming.

They knew their relationship was still relatively new and that they were young, but they couldn’t ignore how strongly they felt about continuing their lives together. Both were accepted to the University of Iowa for the fall of 2019. Being away from their families for the first time was a significant adjustment, but they were grateful to experience it side by side. In 2021, Megan was accepted into nursing school, and by 2022, they had moved into an off-campus townhouse together. Declan’s childhood dog, Tebow, had been with him throughout most of college, and in January 2023, they decided to get a golden retriever puppy named Enzo. Declan graduated in May 2023 and started working remotely while Megan completed her nursing school, eventually graduating in December 2023.

After Megan graduated in December 2023, they moved back home and purchased their first house in East Peoria. Declan switched to working in the office, while Megan focused on studying for her nursing license exam. She successfully passed the exam and began her new job in April 2024.

Declan had been reflecting on how much effort they had both put in over the years to get to where they were, so he suggested they take a trip before Megan started her new job. They chose Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where they rented a mountain home with breathtaking views. On April 1, 2024, Declan had planned a helicopter ride to take in the incredible sights of the Smoky Mountains. Later that day, they had tickets to visit the SkyBridge, the largest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. After taking a ski lift up the mountain, Declan got down on one knee in the middle of the bridge!