Maggie Heginbothom, 68, who was admitted to hospital last month after feeling unwell while riding one of her horses, has married her partner Mark at Ysbyty Gwynedd in north Wales, just three weeks after first visiting her GP.
Following investigations and scans, Maggie received the news that she had advanced liver cancer. She is now receiving palliative care at the hospital, where Mark proposed at her bedside. The couple tied the knot on the hospital's Tegid Ward on Monday, November 9, just three days after the proposal.
Staff coordinate the wedding
With a short time to organise everything, ward staff coordinated flowers, decorations, food, cakes and entertainment, with many giving up their own time to help. Aled Wyn Davies and the Hawkstone Choir sent a special wedding video, while Hospital Chaplain Wynne Roberts surprised everyone by performing songs on his guitar.
Harpist Dylan Rowlands volunteered to perform at the ceremony as a wedding gift, and Allisha from Dolluxe Hair Salon in Bangor styled Maggie's hair.
A special surprise for a horse lover
There was an extra-special surprise for Maggie, who has spent many years riding and competing with horses at Pen Llŷn Stud and Riding School, when her beloved horses Ozzy and Quiosque were brought to Ysbyty Gwynedd to visit her.
Tegid Ward manager Rachel Parry said: "Once we knew the registrar was available, it was all systems go! We only had the weekend to organise everything, but everyone immediately got involved and wanted to do their bit."
Emotional occasion for all
Parry added: "On the morning of the wedding, we transformed Maggie's room with white sheets and fairy lights to create a beautiful space for the ceremony, while the relatives' room became a reception area. Everything ran like clockwork, and some of our colleagues even came in on their days off to help make it happen."
"It was such a special and emotional occasion. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, and it was particularly lovely that some of the other patients Maggie has got to know during her time on the ward were able to join the celebrations. We were also incredibly touched by the generosity of people who offered their talents and services to make the day even more memorable."
Maggie, a former Clinical Scientist with Public Health Wales, said she had been overwhelmed by the love and kindness shown to her. She said: "I just cannot put into words how incredibly grateful I am to everyone who made this happen. It was so beautiful and I honestly never thought it was going to be possible, especially seeing both my horses there as well."
Matron Ceri Newell said the wedding was a wonderful example of the compassion and dedication shown by NHS staff. She said: "Nursing is about so much more than treating illness. It is about compassion, kindness, humanity and recognising that sometimes the most important thing we can do is help make someone's wishes come true. What the team achieved for Maggie and Mark in such a short space of time was truly remarkable, and I could not be prouder of every single person involved."
