After surviving cancer twice, Louisiana native Audrey Parker Green, 74, has found joy as a first-time wife with the love of her life, 75-year-old Allen Green.
In April, she shared her touching story with the TODAY Show.
Although Audrey always knew she wanted to be married, she didn’t want to marry at a young age. The youthful septuagenarian also wanted children, but life had other plans for her.
“Everybody else got it, and then when you look at everybody, and you see they look so happy, and then you wonder, what is it about me? Why?” she told TODAY Show’s, Karen Swensen.
Allen and Audrey began dating shortly after connecting at their high school reunion 25 years ago. She described what it was like seeing him after two decades had passed. The 74-year-old woman also admitted that she didn’t know her husband directly while they were in school.
“I knew of him,” she said. “You’ve got to remember, I’m in school before integration, OK? He comes to me he goes, ‘Miss Parker, I’m not gonna let you get away this time this easy.’ I never anticipated it going any further.”
The Louisiana natives’ 20-year whirlwind love affair didn’t come without obstacles.
In November 2002, Audrey was diagnosed with colon cancer. The diagnosis devastated the couple, and the embattled thought she would lose her beau.
“I told him that if he couldn’t handle it, I would understand and not hold it against him if he felt he needed to leave,” she said.
But Allen stayed with Audrey through chemotherapy and her subsequent recovery.
After winning her battle with colon cancer, the survivor discovered that she had breast cancer in October 2008. And even after undergoing a double mastectomy, Allen’s steadfast love wouldn’t allow him to leave his bride’s side.
Of their support for one another, they both agree that they’re committed to each other.
“What I love about him is that number one, I’m comfortable. I’m me. We laugh. We have fun together,” Audrey told People Magazine.
“We really enjoy each other,” Allen said in agreement. “We love each other, and we try to do the best for each other.”
After Audrey’s cancer ordeal, Allen knew it was time to make their commitment official. He proposed to his beloved on bended knee in March 2021.
The couple was married and surrounded by family and friends in July 2021.
Since the ongoing pandemic canceled their plans for a honeymoon, the TODAY Show surprised the pair with a six-day, five-night stay in Jacksonville Beach’s Margaritaville Beach Hotel. Audrey and Allen will share an oceanfront suite that includes roundtrip airfare and meals.
Audrey and Allen’s love story is a testimony to it never being too late to find happiness.
