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NEED TO KNOW
- Hospital staff at University Hospital Crosshouse in the U.K. helped set up a wedding so that a woman diagnosed with late-stage cancer could see her son get married
- Her son told the hospital that it was her “dream” and he “wanted to make her wish come true”
- Hospital staff set up decorations, catering and photos for the couple and their wedding party
Hospital staff at a U.K. hospital helped make a cancer patient’s dream come true.
The patient, Carol, was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and admitted at the gynecology ward at University Hospital Crosshouse, the NHS Ayrshire & Arran shared in a news release on Friday, Oct. 24.
Due to her sudden diagnosis, her son James, 38, decided to move his wedding plans with his fiancée Shoni, 30, up a year to make sure that his mother was present for the ceremony. He also decided to hold it at the hospital, so that she would be able to attend and still receive care.
“It was always a dream of my mums to watch me get married,” James said. “So when I found out how ill she was, I knew right there and then, I wanted to make her wish come true.”
“Having my mum there was really important for me,” he continued. “She was not just my mum, she was my best friend and the one person I could count on.”
With the decision made to hold the wedding at the University Hospital Crosshouse, hospital staff “rallied quickly to create a special wedding day” for all the parties, per the news release.
The staff decorated a room with flowers and balloons, and the hospital catering team pitched in to supply food and drinks for the couple and their guests. The Medical Photography also provided their photography services for the event.
In photos the NHS shared, James and Shoni could be seen standing around Carol’s bedside, along with their wedding party.
Around them, green and white decorations could be seen. A table with desserts and drinks was also set up in a corner of the room.
“It had been a difficult few months for Carol, becoming so unwell and facing such a challenging time. Being able to watch her son get married was truly wonderful, and she was so happy,” recalled Caroline Blake, Head of Nursing, Women’s and Children’s Services.
“The staff genuinely care about our patients and were determined to do everything they could to help make the wedding happen. It was a humbling experience for the ward team to share such a special moment with Carol and her family,” she added.
The ceremony, which was held last month, shortly after they found out about Carol’s diagnosis, will be one that the couple remembers for a long time to come.
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“Getting married to James knowing Carol was going to be there meant more to me than any big fancy wedding,” said the bride, Shoni. “When we look back at pictures and see Carol there, we just know we made the right decision.”
The couple also made sure to thank the staff at the hospital for the “time and effort they put into making the day as special as it could be for all of us.”
“The fact they were able to arrange everything in just 24 hours was just incredible. It’s a day we both will never forget,” the couple said.
