Couple Gets Married in Hospital After Groom Is Unexpectedly Admitted on Their Wedding Day
Francisco Jeronimo Lucas and Marcelina Pablo Bautista tied the knot in California hospital after the groom was admitted on the couple's big day
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Couple gets married in hospitalA California couple has tied the knot in hospital after the groom was unexpectedly admitted on the couple's wedding day.
Francisco Jeronimo Lucas and Marcelina Pablo Bautista wed at the Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus on Jan. 4 after Lucas was admitted to the Oakland-based facility, according to Fox affiliate KRIV-TV.
The couple, who have been together over 20 years, initially planned to get married in a courthouse on Thursday, the outlet reported, adding that their “desire to wed took on a new urgency" following Lucas’ diagnosis.
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Lucas was recently diagnosed with gastric cancer, according to KTVU, per Fox News.
After being admitted, Lucas and Bautista realized that they didn’t want to waste anymore time and went forward with their wedding plans — getting married in hospital instead.
According to both outlets, the impromptu wedding was organized by palliative care social worker Anne James and an officiant was called to Lucas’ hospital room to marry the couple in front of family members who were invited to attend the special ceremony.
Staff at Alameda Health System also got involved, setting up cake, flowers and balloons inside the hospital room.
"I’m just so happy. In palliative care, we do so many sad things and have a lot of hard conversations. So being able to participate in a wedding brings me so much joy," James told KRIV-TV of the magical day.
"I’m very grateful to everyone here helping us get married," Lucas, who was translated by his daughter Yohana Jeromino Pablo, told Fox News. "I thank God that He brought us all together."
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