Couple expecting funeral start new life instead

HOUSTON Christian Lee Grill and Carla Grill's wedding celebrates a life they thought was ending.

Christian Grill did the unexpected -- he survived. He was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and traveled to Houston last week as a last ditch effort to save his life.

His melanoma had spread. His lung collapsed.

However, a new drug treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center resulted in a new outlook.

"My body is really responding well to what's going on with these drugs and treatments, so I was able to do this this week instead of still being at the hospital," Christian Grill said. "I feel like I'm not ready to go out and jog for a while, but I feel good."

Good enough to marry his longtime fiancee Carla Grill.

They met in Mexico, where they both live. She thought she was coming to Houston to say goodbye.

Instead, she and Christian Grill made an impromptu plan.

"We love each other, and we just decided no matter what, we were going to get married," Carla Grill said.

In a borrowed dress and flowers bought at a grocery store, Carla Grill says this is the wedding of her dreams.

Christian Grill's mother Arie Raysor calls it a miracle to be able to plan a wedding, not a funeral.

"I'm in shock," Raysor said. "I think I'm still in shock because one day you're thinking, I'm never going to see him again, and the next day, he's responding and perfectly fine and planning a wedding."

It's a wedding they will cherish for a lifetime.