Daniel and Michael Found Love After a Spinal Cord Injury

True love often comes when we least expect it. Sometimes it happens with a single swipe, sometimes through the most difficult moments of life. For Daniel and Michael, it was both. What started as a chance encounter on a dating app in 2020 soon revealed itself to be something deeper, more powerful, and more fateful. Their bond grew through shared laughs, meaningful conversations, and resilience that would later become the foundation of their relationship.

Their love endured and changed when a spinal cord injury changed the trajectory of their lives. Rather than driving them apart, it brought them closer together and anchored them in a deep commitment and sense of purpose. And in the fall of 2023, surrounded by the golden foliage of Boston, Michael got down on one knee and made an unforgettable proposal that honored everything they had overcome together.

As they look to their June 2026 wedding and the future they will build with their daughters, Daniel and Michael’s story is a powerful reminder that love is not defined by circumstances, but by courage, commitment, and choosing each other every day.

Below, they share their stories in their own words, along with photos from Pink Light Photography that beautifully capture the heart of their journey.

How did you meet?

We met through a dating app in 2020, and it felt more like fate than chance. When Mike decided to download the app, I was driving north to a friend’s birthday in Napa and I was sitting at home looking at the water and drinking wine with a friend who had convinced me to do the same. I was the first person to appear on his screen. We matched instantly and what started as a swipe turned into a love story that changed our lives forever.

Who proposed it and how?

Mike proposed to me on a cold fall day in Boston, surrounded by golden leaves. His sister pretended they were just taking cute pictures together, but I had no idea what was going to happen. And despite how difficult it was physically for him after his spinal cord injury, Mike got down on one knee. At that moment, time stopped. It wasn’t just a proposal, it was a promise for everything we had already overcome and everything we would build together.

What do you like most about each other?

What we love most about each other is our shared ability to turn hardship into something special. When tragedy strikes, instead of being devastated, we are grounded in a deeper love. Together, we have turned pain into purpose, healing into growth, and simple dreams into lives we build together. Our love is not just about survival. It’s about creating something beautiful out of the most difficult parts of our journey.