A terminally-ill mum who was not able to attend her son's wedding in person got "the next best thing" thanks to hospital staff. Jillian Crossland, 70, from Nottingham, feared she would not be able to see her son get married after she fell at home and fractured her hip shortly before he was due to get married.
The Trauma and Orthopaedics team at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) tried to get Jillian fit enough so she could attend the wedding in person. She was not feeling well enough to be there - but she eventually attended the special event virtually via FaceTime.
The team helped Jillian to see her son get married - and also decorated the ward to recreate the event. She was also assisted by the team to get ready for her son’s wedding.
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Her hair was washed and blow-dried, she was wearing a dress and had lipstick applied. The family room in the ward was decorated, along with finger foods, cake and non-alcoholic prosecco - even the fine china was bought out to help celebrate.
Jillian’s sister, Janet and niece, Vanessa, arrived to take her to the family room in a wheelchair and her family got to see her Mother of the Groom entrance via FaceTime. She watched the entire ceremony with friends in her own private ceremony on the ward.
Her son Ian added: “We did consider cancelling the wedding, but after being reassured by Mum’s care team that they could still make it special for her, we decided to go ahead. It made my day because I was feeling guilty about getting married without my mum being there, but this was the next best thing.”
On the Saturday following the wedding, the groom and his new bride – Natasha, and their two daughters, Mia (17) and Sophia (12), arrived in full wedding attire to take official photographs on the ward balcony – which was kitted out with flowers from Woodborough Garden Centre. Hannah Shaw, Ward Sister from Trauma & Orthopaedics said: “I’ve never seen Jillian smile so much as when she arrived in that room and saw the effort we had gone to, to make it a special as we could.
“It was an honour to be able to provide something so small - but that meant so much to the family and Jillian. We cannot thank chaplaincy and catering enough for their support in making this day perfect. Proud is an understatement to be able to allow this family to celebrate such a joyous occasion – This is what Nursing is all about!”
Ian added. “The nurses were fantastic. I’m really grateful the team let us do it. They really went to town and helped out. My mum was loving it. She said she felt really spoilt.”
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