A North Carolina man died of cancer 36 hours after he married his longtime girlfriend in a quickly arranged ceremony.

Anthony Mohney, who suffered from testicular cancer, died early Monday, WGHP-TV, High Point, N.C., reported. When he realized his life was about to end, he decided the one thing he wanted to do was to marry his longtime girlfriend, Danielle Starr, the report said.

"I always told him that I would rather be married to him for a day than never be married to him at all," said Danielle. "Just getting to see that happen means more to me than I will ever know."

The Davidson County Hospice helped the couple arrange the ceremony, complete with flowers and wedding cake. The presents included a photo of the 2009 University of North Carolina basketball team, signed by the players, for Mohney, an enthusiastic Tarheels fan, the report said.

"It all came together and it was wonderful," Anthony's mother, Michelle, said after his death. "It's what he wanted, what he wanted to do for Danielle."