|
|
|
|
       
|
Allen, 28, and Denise, 32, met in 2001, when both were police officers. They fell very deeply in love. It was the same Summer that Allen discovered cancer on his tongue. Just a small sore at first, which aggressively lead to several surgeries and radiation. Denise and Allen were married in November, while Allen could still speak his wedding vows. The cancer spread deeper. Allen's tongue, throat, and parts of his neck would have to be removed. Allen said 100 "I Love Yous" before the doctor's removed his tongue. It was the last time she heard her husbands voice. Denise Valerius has a 10-year old son, Chris, at the top of his class. She just received her nursing certification. Allen Valerius had his tongue removed in an effort to stop the cancer that was consuming his face. He lost his ability to speak and ate out of a bag. Worse, the surgery didn't work. They were just married two years ago. Allen smiled as much as his scarred, swollen face will allow him to and puts a hand over his wife's when she started to cry. He only smoked a few times and never chewed tobacco. He wasn't more than a social drinker and has no family history of cancer. Doctor's could not give him a reason why this has happened. And Allen doesn't ask Why. "He wouldn't," said Denise. "He's not like that. I do. I ask why." Denise and Allen were both police officers when they met in 2001. Allen was a deputy with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office, and Denise was working for the Sandwich Police Department. Allen had been a police officer for a little more than a year, working his way from the Department of Corrections to the patrol car. Even then, the Dekalb native was known as "smiley." "Allen is very easy to get along with. He could always make you laugh," said Tom Shehee, who was a deputy in Kendall County with Allen. "His positive attitude reflects on everyone else." Denise and Allen already knew each other on a social level, but that summer, she was investigating an accident that occurred in Sandwich with a Kendall County driver. Denise asked Allen to contact the family. "Anything for you," Allen told her with a smile. They kept talking over the police computer and eventually started dating. Denise has a son, Chris, from a previous relationship, but never
had been married before. Allen won her over with the little things, like
hiding romantic notes for her to find later. "We clicked with everything,"
Allen said. "Things just fell into place so easily." |
