“Our parents never dreamed they’d be planning our wedding,” said Julie-Anne Cupoli. “Both of our funerals were planned, but never this day.”
FROM RELAPSE & RECOVERY TO
Health & Happiness By Ariana Puzzo
24
When Julie-Anne Cupoli realized she needed to seek help for her heroin addiction, she recalled it was at a time when loving herself felt impossible. Through Cupoli’s recovery, and now more than four years sober, she has not only experienced the beauty of loving oneself, but also loving the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. Julie-Anne Cupoli and Michael Sanchez wed on Dec. 28, 2020 at Saint Philip the Apostle Parish. The couple’s original wedding date was June 27, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, they needed to postpone the special event. But it would be worth the wait. After all, it was a moment in time that she fought with everything she had to get to. It was also a special moment for her family who she said, at one time, did not think they would see that day happen for her. “Our parents never dreamed they’d be planning our wedding,” said Cupoli, 28, in a phone interview last month. “Both of our funerals were planned, but never this day.” Cupoli’s statement might be a jarring one, but it is also strikingly candid. During our in-depth discussion, Cupoli and Sanchez spoke separately and together about the experiences they faced while recovering from their substance abuse histories. The couple, who met at the beginning of 2017 during their recovery journeys, spoke of how they go through the ups and downs of life together, while still maintaining the necessary boundaries and respect for each other’s individual experiences. “Michael and I have never been to a meeting together,” said Cupoli. “That’s how private and personal our recoveries are … because even though we’re going through it together, we’re not.” That, Sanchez added, is what largely keeps their relationship strong and healthy. February 2021 • Cliftonmagazine.com