- Alyssa Kayhill has been caring for COVID-19 patients in Brooklyn, New York, and feared making her girlfriend sick, so they've been staying in different places for three months.
- On June 8, her girlfriend, Anh-Linh Trinh, thought she was surprising Kayhill for her birthday, but instead, Kayhill proposed.
- Kayhill enlisted both of their families, as well as her sister's apartment complex, to help make the magical moment happen.
After the
Alyssa Kayhill popped the question to Anh-Linh Trinh in Long Island City on June 8 as neighbors and other well-wishers cheered them on.
"It was the first time we've seen each other, and it was so many people out on their balconies and outside clapping," Kayhill told Insider. "It's just this really beautiful moment that couldn't have gone better."
When the couple met nearly eight years ago, it was love at first sight
Kayhill met Trinh at a party more than seven and a half years ago. Kayhill said she saw her from across the room and just had to talk to her.
"I just instantly fell for her. I've been love ever since," Kayhill said.
But when the pandemic hit New York earlier this year, Kayhill, who works for the Brooklyn Hospital Center, was transferred to an ICU where she helped to care for patients with COVID-19. She feared for her girlfriend's health so suggested Trinh stay with her brother in upstate New York, where she could work from home. The couple had never been apart for that extended period of time and although they FaceTimed almost everyday, it was tough.
"I think that time for everyone was just hard," Kayhill said. "It was just a really heavy time in New York and across the world, but it was even harder because she wasn't here."
Their time apart during the pandemic strengthened Kayhill's love for Trinh
Kayhill decided that the next time she saw her girlfriend, the first thing she was going to do was propose. Discussing the proposal with her sister, Kayhill suggested she did it at 7 p.m., when New Yorkers clap for healthcare workers.
"I said wouldn't it be nice if we did it during the 7 p.m. clap because that's been such a huge source of comfort for me," Kayhill said. "Having all these New Yorkers come together every night and do that, it's been really, really sweet."
Her sister Kristie suggested Kayhill do the proposal in Kristie's neighborhood in Long Island City, where thousands participate in the 7 p.m. clap every night. Kristie also reached out to her building management, TF Cornerstone, and staff helped round up residents from two of their buildings to gather on the waterfront and join in with cheers for the couple.
"We've all needed some uplifting news in the past few months, and we couldn't have been more proud to support this lovely couple during Pride Month," said Zoe Elghanayan, principal and vice president at TF Cornerstone.
As Kayhill's birthday approached, Trinh planned to surprise her — unaware she'd be the one facing a surprise
Kayhill's birthday is June 8, and Trinh's brother notified her that Trinh planned to come back to the city to surprise her, so they pretended Kayhill was throwing a party.
"She walked down to come meet me, thinking I was going to be surprised, but as soon as she got to me I just knelt down and proposed to her," Kayhill said. "She was shocked, and it was just so wonderful."
Trinh said yes.
The moment felt like a fairy tale come to life
Kayhill said she didn't plan to propose during Pride Month, but she's glad it worked out that way. Inscribed in Trinh's
The lyrics say: "Love is what it will be."
- Read more:
- 10 ways to celebrate Pride while social distancing this year
- Pride looks different in 2020, but these 39 brands are still supporting the LGBTQ community with Pride collections
- 25 wedding photos show the very first LGBT couples to marry in their countries and the stories behind them
- 47 of the most groundbreaking LGBTQ characters and relationships on TV