It was the fall of 2017. Ilitch was navigating his final year of cardiothoracic surgery fellowship, while Ria had just started her journey as a heart team nurse. Ria was training in the "scrubbing" role— assisting the surgeons throughout each procedure. One day, as Ria was scrubbed in for a case, Ilitch walked in the room. Another nurse introduced them to each other. Ria and Ilitch like to joke that they have opposite “versions” of how they met and fell for each other, but there is one thing they can agree on. They were meant to unexpectedly meet that day in the operating room. Over the following weeks, whenever they were paired together for surgeries, Ilitch would strike up conversations. Each time they worked together, they would chat and get to know each other more. Ria couldn’t help but laugh when Ilitch even broke into a salsa dance in the operating room (don’t worry, no patients were harmed!). Pretty sure it was “Despacito”. As Ilitch’s rotation at the VA ended and he prepared to transition to the University of Minnesota, he asked Ria out on a date. The first date consisted of grabbing drinks at the Highland Grill before watching the movie Coco. The rest is history. Their relationship developed over the next few months, and by spring 2018, they knew this was the real deal. Ria and Ilitch shared many adventures, met each other’s families, and navigated life’s highs and lows together. On March 2nd, 2022, Ilitch proposed to Ria in the picturesque setting of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Now, they’re thrilled to be celebrating their marriage with friends and family in the same beautiful, laid-back city that holds a special place in their hearts.