Real life The Fault in Our Stars couple dies just five days apart

Carlee Lewis
Staff Writer

         Katie and Dalton Prager both were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a young age. The two eventually met online and were eager to meet one another.  Cystic fibrosis makes the body produce more mucus than needed, causing the mucus to plug tubes, ducts, and passageways. When two people with cystic fibrosis meet, it increases the risk of infection to the lungs. If they become a couple, it is almost certain both will develop an infection. Unfortunately, the odds were not in their favor. Both Dalton and Katie developed a lung infection and were put on a lung transplant list.
         They spent their first date riding roller coasters on King Island amusement park. Dalton gave Katie a necklace for her birthday. Almost immediately, Dalton gave Katie his infection. The two got married after two years of meeting. They were each other's self-proclaimed “other halves”.  
         The two had to live in separate states for medical issues to be resolved. The couple rarely saw each other, so they would facetime every day. Dalton received his lung transplant before Katie. Katie struggled to get her lung transplant because of insurance issues. A year after Dalton’s lung transplant, he developed Lymphoma, meaning the transplant was not successful. Not far after Dalton, Katie also developed the disease. 

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​          Dalton was getting ready to go see Katie when his condition worsened. Dalton passed away on Sep. 17, 2016; Katie and Dalton were on Facetime when he passed away. Katie’s condition worsened on the days following. On Sept. 22, 2016 word broke that Katie had passed away as well. The cause of the couple's death was a lung disease that causes the lungs to fill up with mucus, making it hard to breathe.
          Katie and Dalton's parents and family members encourage people to learn more about cystic fibrosis in spirit of them passing. They hope to find a cure one day for this disease. Katie and Dalton Prager will always be remembered as fighters who never gave up.