Couple of 33 years ties the knot in hospital room after man's terminal diagnosis: 'God is gonna give us the time to make the most of it'

A couple in South Carolina got married after three decades after the groom's cancer diagnosis took a turn for the worse.

Nancy Nelson told WDRW that, for her, it was love at first sight the first time she cast her gaze upon Robert Major.

'Definitely, for me,' she said. 'I can't speak to him, but he never ran off.'

Despite their love, the pair - who were separated for 20 years by a 'great distance' - never got married until Major got a terminal cancer diagnosis last month.

'We don't have a lot of time,' a tearful Nelson said. 'Perhaps, maybe we do. I still have faith that something will happen, that God will move a miracle.

'But we've got each other for now, and that's all we need to get through.' The only thing, she said, that has remained constant all these years is their love for one another.

So, when Major entered hospice car, they decided it was time to make their long-term love state official.

Nancy Nelson (pictured) said she and Robert Major tied the knot in a hospital room before he entered hospice

The pair, who live together in Aiken, South Carolina, have loved one another for 33 years

'I accept that we've only got a short time together, but we're gonna make the most of it. I know God is gonna give us the time to make the most of it,' said Nelson

'I talked to Robert, and I said, 'Hey, should we get married, hon?' and he said, 'Absolutely.' 'So, we got married in the hospital room.'

During their time apart, Nelson said the pair visited one another and 'kept the relationship going, but on a way different level.' The love, she says, 'was always there,' though.

When her parents passed away several years ago, Nelson moved back to Aiken, South Carolina from New Mexico, where she'd spent many years.

'I packed up all of my belongings and headed back here, and we bought this house together. We live together.

We didn't really talk about marriage. We knew we loved each other, and everything was just wonderful,' she said.

For the moment, the newlyweds remain at home, enjoying one another's company while they are able to.

'I accept that we've only got a short time together, but we're gonna make the most of it. I know God is gonna give us the time to make the most of it,' said Nelson.