What can I say ? These two, they melt my heart. I've had the honor of getting to know Madie over the last five years and then more recently got to know her sweetheart, Andrew. They're fun to be around, full of love, joy, some sass(ha!) and kindness. It fills me with joy to see them in a beautiful & loving relationship. Their friendship grew into a love relationship over the years. This year, in May they are to be husband and wife, partners for life! To say I'm excited for them and their families is an understatement. 💘
Here's a part of an article that they are in M Magazine. There is also a GoFundMe page that friends and I set up for them. We all want them to have their fairy tale wedding! If you feel like donating that's great, or spreading the word helps too.
When Andrew Gerbitz first met Madie Ehlers at a Special Olympics basketball practice at the Pabst Farms YMCA in Oconomowoc 10 years ago, he believed his prayers for someone to love had been answered. Gerbitz, now 36, says, “I prayed about it and God brought me Madie.”
Ehlers was just 16 at the time, though, so Gerbitz had no choice but to wait for her. And, like many romances, there would be obstacles to overcome.
“Six years ago, Madie was diagnosed with a rare brain disease,” says her mother, Mary Beth Freckmann. “She had three brain surgeries, two in 2014 and another last October. Andrew’s been through a lot too. He lost his dad.”
Over the last several years, Gerbitz and Ehlers grew closer, taking classes together at the Y, dating to get to know each other better, and, at long last, finding love. Just thinking about that makes Ehlers dissolve into giggles.
“I just love him so much,” she says. “He’s so kind and he makes me laugh a lot. I just can’t take my eyes off of him. I can’t stop thinking about him.”
One year ago, Gerbitz surprised her when he got on his knees at their Zumba class and asked her to be his bride. Ehlers, without hesitation, said yes. The date is set for May 30. The bride and groom, both living with Down syndrome, are looking ahead to their big day with the same determination they’ve brought to every other milestone in their lives.
“I am continually impressed with what Madie learns,” says Freckmann. Although experts told Freckmann early on that her daughter would likely be limited in her abilities, she is working at a local restaurant. Ehlers also wants to become a Zumba instructor and to take voice lessons. With help from her mom, she has also launched a chapter of People First, a self-advocacy organization for people with disabilities, in Lake Country.
GoFundMe
https://www.gofundme.com/f/cfunee-love-is-love
MKE Lifestyle
http://www.mkelifestyle.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=15MinutesWith%3AAndrewGerbitz%2CMadieEhlersAndMaryBethFreckmann&category=Milwaukee+Resources&fbclid=IwAR2kgLFz3At26IOQfGJ4JD1-IWpzZIRM13-Ne_cG7JiGTFNtWHvQAjtSX4g
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