BUFFALO, N.Y. - When the owners of S & E Jewelers were watching the news on Christmas Day, they were moved to respond to a story of a woman who beat addiction and thanked Erie County Sheriff's deputies for playing a role in her road to success.
Stephanie Christiano wrote an open letter on Facebook to the deputies and she was able to arrange a meet-and-greet with them at the Erie County Holding Center. It was that letter, and her story in a report by Channel 2's Claudine Ewing, that caught the attention of James and Natalie Neumann.
"I saw the story and it was beautiful, and I was touched and I looked over and he was welled up with tears," said Natalie about her husband. "When I saw Joel propose to her that just triggered so much more inside me that, we've got to be a part of this," said James.
The owners reached out and wanted to give the couple a gift of wedding bands of their choice up to $1,000 in value.
"I was really lucky that I got to see such a positive response from people from this story. It was incredible. I was really glad to show other people, even if you're having a tough time, it can change. it takes a lot of hard work and perseverance, but it's possible," said Christiano.
There was a time in her life she once used marijuana, heroin and pills. She was in and out of jail. Now she is engaged to be married and her soon-to-be husband calls her story amazing.
James Neumann gets a little choked up when asked why he wanted to help this couple. It turns out he could relate to the struggle, "well I myself could have been there and worse," but he says friends and family were helpful in his life years ago.
Stephanie and Joel are planning an August 2019 wedding.