A patient in the later stages of cancer was able to fulfil her son’s dream of seeing him marry his fiancé in a special wedding ceremony on a ward at University Hospital Crosshouse.
James, (age 38) and his partner Shoni, (age 30) who live in South Ayrshire, brought their planned nuptials for later next year forward in a beautiful ceremony last month following his mother Carol’s sudden cancer diagnosis.
Carol, from North Ayrshire, was an inpatient at gynaecology ward at University Hospital Crosshouse and the staff rallied quickly to create a special wedding day for her son and partner.
It was a real team effort to make it a day to remember, with staff decorating a room on the ward with flowers and balloons; the hospital catering team supplying food and drinks; and the Medical Photography team providing photography.
The couple said their vows in front of proud mum Carol, close family, managerial and ward staff. Both families really appreciated the care and efforts of hospital staff to make their day truly special.
Head of Nursing, Women’s and Children’s Services, Caroline Blake said: “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.
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.”
James said, “It was always a dream of my mums to watch me get married, 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. She was not just my mum, she was my best friend and the one person I could count on.”
Shoni added, “Getting married to James knowing Carol was going to be there meant more to me than any big fancy wedding. When we look back at pictures and see Carol there, we just know we made the right decision.”
Speaking about the arrangements and planning for their wedding day, James and Shoni said, “We both also want to thank the staff 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.”