BOYNTON BEACH -- Krystle McGrady began dancing at age 2 at Miss Jody's Place to Dance in Boynton Beach. By 2007, she was taking daily ballet classes at Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Her life was a whirl of disciplined activity until it almost stopped.

That March, on her 16th birthday, McGrady was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cancer.

McGrady's first thought was, "I'm going to die."

Then she had a second thought: If she could just keep dancing, she could prevail. Like the dance lessons of her childhood, McGrady took each chemotherapy and radiation treatment as a stride toward a larger goal.

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By 2009, after a stem-cell transplant, McGrady's doctors pronounced her cancer-free. Once an aspiring marine biologist, she switched her career plans to social work, specializing in helping patients with health issues.

McGrady said her choice reflected her gratitude for the assistance she received during and after her treatments. Her resiliency and attitude could help her with patients, she thought.

"My struggles helped me understand that you can fall down and hit rock bottom, but there will always be another rock bottom, which means there's always another way out," McGrady said. "Because it can get lower means it always can get higher."

Then came a new health crisis, one that threatened the most important dance of her life -- the one at her wedding to Casey Sardoss, who'd been by her side throughout her cancer battle.

Would it derail this dream? Or could she show herself and others how to handle even the most daunting challenge?

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The two met in high school and later moved to Colorado where McGrady earned a master's in social work from the University of Denver. They loved Colorado but eventually returned to Florida to be closer to family. They bought a house in Boynton Beach they share with their English bull terrier rescue, Bob.

By 2022, they were planning an October 2024 wedding at a picturesque venue near Denver. Their first dance would be to "The Best," the Tina Turner song performed by the Nicotine Dolls, "because Casey is the best," McGrady said.

She picked out a wedding gown with a sparkly tulle skirt that would flow when she moved. Jody Sorrels, owner of Miss Jody's, even choreographed the couple's steps.

Then in September 2023, as McGrady trained for a half-marathon, hip pain set in. By the time she finished the race two months later, she could barely stand.

She had hip dysplasia, a problem with the way her hip sockets cover the ball part of her upper thighbones.

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This year, she underwent two surgeries on her right hip, immobilizing her for weeks. While she recuperated, she worked on her wedding plans and fought sad thoughts.

Would she be able to dance with her husband? Walk down the aisle? Stand for her vows?

"My mind kept going to the worst-case scenario," said McGrady, 33. Then she had another thought: How can I help my body move and make this wedding great anyway?

Instead of high heels for the ceremony, McGrady picked sturdy Dr. Martens boots. For the reception, she chose sneakers.

She even found a walker she could decorate with flowers. Just in case.

The weeks flew by, and the calendar flipped to October.

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On a late October day, McGrady donned her wedding gown, the one with the flouncy long skirt.

During the ceremony, she strode toward Sardoss in her boots. She didn't need help walking after all.

An hour later, McGrady slipped into her wedding sneakers. She held his hand and stepped into the reception hall.

McGrady's friends and family surrounded the couple as the wedding song began.

Then Miss Jody's dance moves kicked in, and McGrady's world disappeared into a whirl of sparkle and laughter.