Couple comes full circle to find each other

Bob Amira and his fiance Vicki have had their share of small miracles that recently included winning a one-carat diamond at an event sponsored by the Southern Nevada Opera Association.

Their story began 25 years ago when they dated briefly when Vicki was working as Bob's dental hygienist. Their relationship fizzled, and both parties went their separate ways and established separate families. Both relationships ended in divorce.

"We both had two children from our previous marriages," Amira said. "We had to pick up the pieces and move on."

Many years later, Vicki was going through a depression.

"I was at a very low point in my life and I said a prayer, something like 'please send me an angel or give me a sign to say that everything is going to be all right,' 15 minutes later, I was taking my child to kindergarten and I heard a familiar voice. It was Bob Amira. I couldn't believe it," Vicki said.

After the two went for coffee, it was clear they had more of a connection than Vicki had once realized.

"The first question I asked her was, 'why didn't you call me,' " Amira said. "I always had a thing for her but she just wasn't interested."

"Our children were in the same kindergarten class, and our older sons worked on the same project at the Mirage. It was uncanny," Vicki said.

Almost two years later, after getting engaged and conquering obstacles like Vicki's bout with cancer, the couple was invited to attend "Diva, Diamonds and Don Juan" by one of the board members of the Opera Association. Each guest was given a champagne glass with a cubic zirconium in it, as well as a raffle ticket for the ultimate prize -- the one-carat diamond.

At the end of the night the winner was announced and Amira hadn't fully digested what he had won.

"It didn't really sink in until we went home that night. Vicki asked me what I was going to do with it. I told her we should make that our engagement ring. It was perfect," Amira said.

"It was almost as if it was supposed to happen," Vicki said. "Just like our relationship. I asked for a miracle and I ran into Bob. We were undecided about a ring and we won a diamond."

"It's so great to be part of a team," Amira said. "We do everything together."

Amira and his fiance also donate many hours to charity and other Las Vegas community services, and Vicki is currently helping others discover and connect with their own sense of well being through spiritual healing.

"She's even got me meditating," Amira said.