A couple, Cynthia Brooks, 49, and Alondo Thomas, 38, whose paths connected by similar circumstances, were married on Sept. 4 at Lillian Carter Nursing Center.

Brooks, a native of Hawaii, living in Orlando Fla., paralyzed on her right side, was hospitalized shortly before the first of the year and then referred to Lillian Carter Nursing Center. She arrived at the Center in January.

At about this time, across the northwestern end of Florida, Thomas, a native of New Jersey, born with spinal bifida, was living in Panama City when he was transferred to a hospital in Atlanta. Soon after, he was also referred to Lillian Carter, arriving in February.

As Thomas makes his way through the halls of the nursing center, opening the doors for his wife, the couple describe the beginnings of a relationship which was destined to bloom.

“The first time I saw her she was kind of mean to me,” said Thomas as he described talking the nurses into asking Brooks if she was single.

“I told them it was none of his business; I already had a boyfriend. But I was only trying to play hard to get,” she said with a laugh, explaining she was barely getting aquatinted with her new home.

“I said to myself, ‘oh my God, I am in a whole different state,’” she said.

Thomas and Brooks, over the next several months, had their ups and downs of trying to accept the transition into a new environment and then, the transition into a new relationship.

“I had a girl I was already talking with when I met her,” explained Thomas.

As time passed, Thomas and Brooks starting talking, both realizing they were highly compatible with one another.

“We both like to do the same things, listen to the same music, and we love to watch horror movies together, with popcorn and the works,” Thomas said.

“He can say something and I can finish it. I can read his mind. When you know someone like that, you know there is a connection,” said Brooks.

Brooks and Thomas courted for about six months, then the talk of marriage came up several times. They would decide, then postpone the plans. Then Thomas made arrangements to purchase a ring.

“A lot of people wouldn’t have known I proposed to her until she went around showing off her ring. She still does it,” said Thomas.

“He picked it out and surprised me,” Brooks said holding out her left hand, while describing their wedding day celebration.