Wife From The Real-Life 'Fault In Our Stars' Couple Dies Five Days After Her Husband

Katie Prager, whose relationship with her late husband Dalton mirrored the plot of the novel "The Fault in Our Stars," died Thursday of complications from cystic fibrosis, TIME reported. She was 26 years old.

The same disease took Dalton's life just five days ago. Katie was able to say goodbye and tell Dalton she loved him via FaceTime as he passed away in Missouri on Saturday at age 25.

Katie and Dalton last saw each other on their fifth wedding anniversary in mid-July. They were planning on reuniting last week in Kentucky, where Katie lives, before Dalton's condition took a turn for the worse.

After she received word that Dalton died, Katie was heartbroken but told a local newspaper, "I'll see him soon."

"She gained her wish of being at home, in her bed, surrounded by her mom, dad, brother and her dogs, dying peacefully, away from the hospital, tubes, IVs," Katie's mom wrote on Facebook. "I know Dalton was waiting with open arms, as well as both her grandmother's and a host of family and friends that have gone before her."

Dalton and Katie first met on Facebook when they were 18. Though they were advised to not meet in person since Dalton had a contagious infection for people with cystic fibrosis, they did so anyway and married in 2011 when they were both 20 years old.

Katie ended up contracting the infection, and soon each of them needed new lungs. While they were both able to get transplants — him in fall 2014 and her in summer 2015 — neither procedure was successful. 

Katie recently made the decision to die naturally, rejecting all medical procedures that would keep her alive except for dialysis.

Knowing that her daughter is no longer in pain, hooked up to oxygen tubes, or undergoing dialysis consoles Katie's mom, Debbie Donovan. On Facebook, she asked that people remember Katie and Dalton by learning about cystic fibrosis, giving blood in their memory, and being kind to others.

"One important thing I have taken away from this is to live, just live... if there is something you want to do, don't wait. Life is short, love as hard as you can," Donovan wrote.

"The days to follow will not be easy but I find comfort in knowing that my girl lived, she really lived."