It’s good to see there are still heartwarming stories to write about at times. The Boston Marathon bombing was a day of tragedy and loss. It was also a day of heroics and a time when seeds were planted for one couple to fall in love.

From Fox News Insider:

According to the New York Post, Roseann Sdoia was a spectator near the finish line on April 15, 2013, when she was hit by shrapnel from the exploding pressure-cooker bombs.

Firefighter Mike Materia rushed to her aid and accompanied her to the hospital, where Sdoia’s mother stepped in as the matchmaker.

“In the hospital, my mom tried to set me up with him,” Sdoia said. “She was like, ‘Oh, did you see that firefighter? He’s so cute.’ And I was like, ‘Mom, I just got blown up.'”

Sdoia required a leg amputation, and Materia followed her recovery from start to finish. The pair began dating in June 2013, and he proposed this past December.

“I do feel that, in a sense, some things happen for a reason,” Sdoia said.

Sdoia has continued her recovery and is doing well enough that she and Materia will be participating in the annual race up the 1,576 steps of the Empire State Building to benefit charity.

Even better, is the bit about the proposal. A dog was involved:

The lovebirds went on their first date in June 2013. A month later, they spent the Fourth of July on Nantucket. Last month, he proposed on a lookout deck at the island’s whaling museum with the help of their pooch, Sal.

The dog was wearing a special engraved dog tag that read, “Mike wants to know . . . If you’ll marry him.”

Here’s a short video about the story:

Here’s to the happy couple!