Nicolas and Stella

Founder’s dream comes true

Finding the perfect match for her son Nicolas, age 21, was the reason Katherine Gyolai founded Find Love Safely in January of 2025. Nicolas, who has Down syndrome, asked his mom in 2024 if he could join an online dating app. The idea struck fear in Katherine. She had heard horror stories about online dating and the disabled community being scammed online. She knew the existing dating sites were off limits for Nicolas. So, Katherine took it upon herself to create a first-of-its-kind matchmaking service designed to help adults with intellectual disabilities find friendships and love.

Katherine workshopped the idea, built a website, and started spreading the word. The first member event was speed dating on Valentine’s Day. Katherine used social media to promote the event.

Around the same time, “Stella (age 20) came downstairs one day and said, ‘I want to find a boyfriend and you need to help me,’” explained Michelle. “A lot of her friends and cousins were getting engaged, and she wanted to be a part of that. I had no idea where to start, so I began searching online. Then I saw a post about the Find Love Safely Valentine’s Day event. I immediately registered Stella.”

Katherine sensed chemistry

Before the event, Katherine met Stella and Michelle during a Find Love Safely intake call. Katherine’s first impression of Stella was that she might be a great match for Nicolas. “I didn’t say anything to Stella or Nicolas, because I knew they would meet on Valentine’s Day.” She wanted their meeting to be organic. It could not have turned out better.

When Nicolas sat down across from Stella, the moms were standing next to each other. “I said to Michelle, I kind of think there’s sparks there. And she said, ‘Oh, there are definitely sparks.’” That’s when Katherine told Michelle how excited she was when Stella said during their intake call that she wanted to find somebody she could see Jesus in. “Nicolas is a Christian, and he loves the Lord. I could not wait for them to meet.”

Relationship blooms

Nicolas’s and Stella’s relationship has continued to bloom. For their first date, the couple and their moms had dinner at a Minneapolis restaurant. Nicolas and Stella finished their meal before Katherine and Michelle, so the new couple joined their moms at the table. As they listened to the restaurant’s background music, Nicolas and Stella began swaying in their seats. Katherine suggested they find an area where they could dance. “The restaurant was not busy and the server was really nice. She turned up the music a bit so they could dance,” said Katherine. Nicolas added, “We danced a little bit, and then we slow danced, and we kissed for the first time.”

Since then, Nicolas and Stella FaceTime every evening. Music is a common bond. They love to listen to music together, and Nicolas likes to sing to Stella.

“When Stella first started FaceTiming with Nicolas, she would just stare lovestruck at him,” said Michelle. Katherine also marveled at how they don’t even need to speak to each other during their calls or on dates. They love to simply spend time together, even in silence. “It’s simple love and companionship for each other. It’s really beautiful.” 

The couple have met each other’s families, and everyone is thrilled at their budding relationship. The couple have gone bowling together, gone on a long walk, and even participated with Katherine in a radio interview for Find Love Safely.

Mutual admiration

Reflecting on her feelings about their relationship, Stella can hardly contain herself. “I love to express my feelings of love toward my boyfriend,” she said. “It’s like a bond of love. It’s like flowers. He has brought me so much faith, and counsel, and advice. It’s like Bam, there goes fireworks. It is a real connection.”

Nicolas feels the same. “Stella makes me happy. In the future, I see her being my wife.”