Doctors called him “The Miracle Man” when Jesse Page, 67, awoke from a 3-week coma after previously surviving a heart attack, a bacterial infection and pneumonia.  Page met fellow Titus Towers  (TT) resident Luvenia Collins, 70, five years ago after both of their spouses had passed away. 

            Collins said it was her fabulous homemade potato salad that made him fall for her.  “He fell in love with that first,” she said.  “We got to talking, he came over one day and said, ‘I think I’m falling in love with you,’ and I said ‘I think I’m falling in love with you.’”

            On Jan. 23 after a heart attack flat lined Page in an ambulance, he fell into a comma at Cayuga Medical Center.  Collins spent $20 each day to take a taxi to see Page inside Intensive Car Unit No. 9.  She kept his favorite song “Sweet Sixteen” by B.B. king on repeat hoping it would bring him out of it.  After 3-weeks, Page awoke to simply say “I love you, Luvenia.” 

            Before Page’s near death experience the two had never considered marriage.  “He said ‘When I get well enough to walk into city hall, I’m going to marry you,’” Collins said.  And two weeks after his discharge he did just that.

            On Saturday, Mar. 29th 2008, the two exchanged their vows inside the TT I community room. Page who normally uses a walker refused and stood the entire time.  Mail carrier Kim Stanford even stopped in with tears to congratulate the two.  “I love them, they’re great people,” she said.  “Jesse sings to me while I’m delivering the mail.” 

Everyone in the TT community was happy for “The Miracle Man” and his new spouse.  The last wedding in TT was over five years ago according to Ithaca Housing Authority program director Billie Nordby.  Thelma Belgard, 71, who was Collins’ maid of honor, said “I just hope they have plenty of time to have a really wonderful future together.”