Couple opts for hospital wedding in order to include mom
Staff throws in confetti, flowers and all the trimmings
THERE WAS A LOT OF LOVE in the air at Niagara Health’s Douglas Memorial hospital in Fort Erie on Tuesday afternoon.
A small meeting room at the urgent care centre on Bertie Street was transformed into a wedding hall for a local couple and, by the end of a short ceremony, Chelsea and Jordan Harper were pronounced husband and wife in front of friends and family.
Chelsea’s mother, Kim Sherwood, has been living with an inoperable tumour for several months and has been at Douglas Memorial’s palliative care unit for about two weeks after spending most of her time since last Christmas at the hospital in Niagara Falls.
Over the weekend, the young couple put some feelers out on social media about the possibility of getting married at Douglas Memorial, where Chelsea’s mother is receiving treatment, so she could be there for them on their special day.
By Monday, two nurses who have provided care for Sherwood, Jackie Junkin and Cathy Case, put their heads together and started planning. There was confetti, food and drinks, floral arrangements — all the details that make a celebration a celebration.
Once the Harpers were officially married by Rev. Martha Lockwood, they said they were relieved it all came together — but also delighted to be able to share the moment with Chelsea’s mother and all their friends and family in attendance.
“I don’t think we would have want-
ed it any other way,” said Jordan, thankful for Niagara Health staff who helped make their special day possible in so little time.
“They’ve been so good with us and my mom — it means the absolute world,” said Chelsea about everyone at Douglas Memorial.
Jordan said they were both surprised about how much effort was put into the unique day, the first of its kind at Fort Erie’s main medical facility.
“I didn’t expect this — I don’t think any of us did for it to be this extravagant,” he said.
Chelsea (nee Barkley) said that considering her mother’s medical condition, she needed to have her there as part of her big day.
Kim said she is deeply touched by her daughter’s and new sonin-law’s decision to plan their wedding around her current situation — especially since they didn’t get a lot of time with one another during her hospital stay in Niagara Falls.
“My trial of life we have to get through — I want to have no regrets,” she said, while also expressing optimism about the future. “I totally believe in miracles.”
Junkin, one of the people who led the planning, said the ceremony was a great day for the health-care provider and for Fort Erie, considering the unfortunate circumstances that are often part of palliative and complex care.
“To see something so spirited and so upbeat — I think it’s a really proud moment for our site at Douglas Memorial, but also the Fort Erie community,” she said.
Case, who worked alongside Junkin, is also getting ready for her own daughter’s wedding in the near future.
“Being a mom of the bride I can relate to Kim and to Chelsea for wanting her mom there,” she said.
Niagara Health president Dr. Suzanne Johnston attended the unique event. She said she was very impressed with the work Douglas Memorial’s staff performed to make this happen for the local family.
“They’ve gone above the call of duty and it’s a real pleasure to come and witness the work of the team here,” she said.
The Harpers have a young son, Jaxson, who helped celebrate.