In a profoundly moving act of compassion, medical staff at a Colorado hospital organised a surprise wedding for a bride receiving treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
A Celebration Amidst Devastating News
Aliana and Bailey Gleason, partners for eleven years, exchanged vows in a hallway at HCA HealthOne Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado. The ceremony took place just two days after their engagement, a decision accelerated by Aliana's deteriorating health. She is undergoing treatment for a rare sarcoma, a cancer affecting the body's connective tissues, which has spread to her spine and offers limited treatment options.
The couple had long postponed their wedding, dreaming of a future celebration they could afford. However, recent developments in Aliana's condition prompted a change of heart. "With some recent developments in our lives, we are thinking that life is short and that we want to be married," Bailey Gleason explained to local news.
Staff Rally to Create a 'Perfect' Day
Upon learning of the couple's engagement, the hospital's oncology team sprang into action. Nurse manager Matt Turrie described the impulse to help, stating, "There is not a lot you can always do, so when there is something you can do, by supporting the family, supporting the patient, being able to put on something like this, a wedding, a celebration."
The hospital corridor was transformed into an aisle, decorated with a heart banner, balloons, and flower petals. Aliana, wearing a strapless white wedding dress, was wheeled down the aisle by staff, who lined the hallway to witness the union. Reflecting on the unexpected ceremony, Aliana said, "It feels like it was supposed to be this way." Bailey agreed, adding, "It doesn't feel like it's not the wedding we wanted; it feels perfect."
A Vow to Face the Storm Together
The emotional ceremony served to solidify the couple's commitment to confront immense challenges as a united front. In her vows, Aliana promised "to always stand beside him, even through the hard stuff." She acknowledged, "We are going through some [of] the hardest things you can go through right now in our lives, not just medically, in every aspect and... it was a promise to just stand next to each other and face the storm together."
Turrie praised Aliana's remarkable fortitude throughout her treatment, noting, "A lot of fight that we have seen the past couple of days. Hasn't been the best news, but every day she wakes up, and she is smiling." Despite the circumstances, the couple expressed no regrets about their hastened, hospital-based wedding day.
They also offered heartfelt advice for other couples, with Aliana emphasising, "Once you find the right person, don't let little things get in the way. Don't let little fights slowly chip away at the magic that you have found." The event stands as a powerful testament to love, community support, and finding light during life's most difficult chapters.
