LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — On their way to the first night of the Route 91 festival last year, Ty mentioned to Makale he wanted to get married on September 29.
“It’s both of our birthdays and S for my last name, our last name is Sanders, that way I never forget," he said.
“I said, hey, if you want to get married, you better get on it because, ugh, that’s one year from today," Makele said.
Two nights later, they had another “s” word to their name: survivors.
“I was like, you better marry me now. We can survive anything. You better marry me now," Makele said with a laugh.
Two months later, Ty proposed in the couple’s backyard. And on September 29th of this year, they said I do. The trauma of 1 October lingered though and Makele was left wondering.
“You always question why did you make it out? And not other people. What was the reason?”
About a month ago - an answer came, in the form of two little girls. A student in Makele’s Kindergarten class needed a new home. Makele and Ty acted fast and within a week, they were foster parents - to a five-year-old and a 6-month-old.
“I don’t know what it was before but it’s chaos now - we went from no kids to two kids but I wouldn’t change it for anything. We do love them.”
Both Makele and Ty believe everything happens for a reason.
“Maybe this is why because someone else knew that there was going to be two little girls who needed a home for even if it’s temporary then they were going to need a good life for the time you had them so that’s really kind of helped me overcome and get through this.”
“We had someone looking out for us that day.’”
Makele’s uncle Jim has been looking on in admiration as the two young newlyweds have opened not just their hearts but their homes. That's why he nominated the couple for our 13 Days and Knights of Giving.
“They haven’t even received a dime from foster, they’re still in the process of getting everything. They didn’t care. We want these children. We want them to have a good environment and it’s working and it’s amazing.”
But Makele said they didn't do any of this for recognition.
“It was really just because we wanted to do what we thought was best and that was it. There were no other reasons behind it so for someone to go out of their way to do this for us really means a lot to both of us.”
