The Inspiring True Love Story of the Real Couple behind "The Vow"
"I chose to love Kim based on obedience to God, not on feelings, because all the feelings I had were wiped out." –Krickitt Carpenter
In an NBC Today Show interview, the real couple's story behind the movie recently in theaters and now on DVD—"The Vow"—is told.
Although I haven't yet seen the movie, just hearing the remarkable true account of how Kim and Krickitt Carpenter were able to reconstruct their world through love, commitment, and faith, is even more beautiful than Hollywood's telling could ever be.
Two months after Kim and Krickitt were married; they were on their way to share Thanksgiving dinner with family, when a nightmarish car accident nearly took Krickitt's life.
Krickitt had sustained a serious brain injury. She hung on and managed to recover, except for the loss of her short-term memory and any recollection that she had married or even met Kim.
"I wanted my wife back," explained Kim in a previous interview, "I became obsessed with putting pictures of us [from] before we were married, or our engagement picture up anywhere."
When nothing seemed to work, a therapist suggested they "fall in love again." And Kim's mission began; to once again win the heart of the woman he loved.
It worked. Kim notes, "She fell in love with me not once, but twice!"
"It's amazing," Krickitt said. "We are truly blessed, going from where I was given less than half a percent chance to survive, or that if I survived I'd be a vegetable—the Lord is a Great Physician!"
About the movie and the actors, Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, Kim said, "We spent some good time with Rachel and Channing…the chemistry that they portrayed and the way they studied us was a really neat thing."
Today Show host Ann Curry asked Kim, "Why didn't you give up?"
"You know, we live in a society where vows are constantly broken. Forty years ago, 'till death do us part' meant the death of a soul mate. Today it's the death of a marriage that society's accepted. There are so many things we could talk about in this story… but the real thing is; two very faithful sets of parents that took great care of us—over 100 anniversaries between our parents together—and accompany that with our faith… That's what you do; you do the right thing."
"It wasn't the second time around that I 'fluffy-fell-in-love' with him again; it was a choice," said Krickitt. "I chose to love Kim based on obedience to God, not on feelings, because all the feelings I had were wiped out. I chose to love him, and obviously my love grew for him. He's a wonderful individual—you have to stay committed. You have trials in your life, and you have to keep persevering."
As Kim and Krickitt's two children came out to join them on the Today Show set, Curry noted the legacy of love that the couple was living before them.
"This is the real blessing of our vow right here," said Kim about their children. "It's the greatest compliment for a parent to be able to let these kids see the enamor and the glitz and the attention for doing the right thing. To have a movie made about your life is sensational… but [for] these kids to get to see what Mom and Dad did (the right thing), and all the attention [that's bringing], it's the greatest life lesson they could really have. Hopefully this will be a real memory for them to carry on."
To visit the couple's website, log onto: thecarpentersvow.com
