Friday, August 30, was supposed to be Katie Gaudreau's special day. She was in the middle of preparing for her wedding when she found out that her brothers, Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were killed. On Thursday, September 5, she took to social media to reflect on "that day."
"Right in the middle of getting ready for the best day of my life the unthinkable happens that will change my life forever," Katie wrote on Instagram. Her brothers Johnny, who was a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player, and Matthew, were supposed to be groomsmen in her wedding.
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A man driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee struck Johnny and Matthew while they were riding bicycles.
At around 8:19 p.m. on the night before Katie's wedding ceremony, her older brothers were struck by a suspected drunk driver. Sean Higgins, 43, said that he had had five or six beers before hitting the two brothers with his vehicle, per CNN.
On August 30, their uncle Jim Gaudreau shared a statement on Facebook, writing, "Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two uncles, two nephews, two cousins, two family members two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans."
Katie was getting ready for her wedding when she found out.
In her September 5 Instagram post, Katie reflected on how her life changed in "a split second" after "a phone call."
"I remember a week ago being in the hotel sitting with family and texting Devin [her fiancé] about how we forgot to practice our dip," she wrote. "To think that was our biggest worry at this moment when in just a split second and a phone call later our lives would forever change."
"Remember to tell your people you love them," she continued. "I would do anything to tell my big brothers I love them one more time."
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When Katie does get married, she knows her brothers will 'be dancing and celebrating.'
Katie's fiancé Devin Joyce posted about her brothers on September 3, writing, "I know I never said it but I loved you guys so much. I’m so lucky to have called you two my brothers for as long as I did."
Katie shared Devin's post to her own Instagram Stories and wrote, "My brothers loved Devin more than he will ever know. They were so excited for us to get married."
She added that "when the day comes they are going to be dancing and celebrating more than anyone."
Katie called Johnny and Matthew the 'best big brothers a little girl could have asked for.'
On September 2, Katie wrote "there are absolutely no words I have to express the bond my family shared" and called Johnny and Matthew "the absolute best big brothers a little girl could have asked for."
"This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both," she continued. "I’ll take the best care of mom, dad, Kristen, Mer, Madeline, and your babies."
Johnny was dad to two children, Noa and Johnny. Matthew's widow is currently pregnant with the couple's first child. A GoFundMe page was started to support Matthew's wife, Madeline, and "their growing baby Tripp."
'Thank you for the best years of my life,' Johnny's wife wrote on Instagram.
After Johnny's death, his wife, Meredith, shared several touching posts on Instagram. In one post, she wrote, "Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours." In another, she called Johnny "the absolute best dad in the world."
She also shared a tribute to Matthew. "Matty, thank you for loving our babies like your own and for being such an amazing uncle and godfather. I can’t wait to return the honor when I become Tripp’s aunt," she wrote.
She added that "everyone wanted to be around [Johnny and Matthew], including me."
