Cancer patient says ‘I do’ at the Glynnwood
Despite being hospitalised, cancer patient Gary Hockaday had promised to marry his wife, Maria (formerly Janse van Rensburg), and did so on his hospital bed on February 19 .
“I was admitted to the Life the Glynnwood Hospital on Friday February 17 in a comatose state caused by a tumour,” Gary said.
“Unfortunately, I am stage four cancer and take it a day at a time and am grateful for every morning that I awake.”
READ: She’s the love of my life, says dying woman
Gary’s condition was critical and he was not expected to survive past Friday night.
“The nursing staff were working on me, Sisters Gerda and Bets from trauma counselling had asked that my family come and say their farewell to me,” he added.
But, Gary made it through the night and did not miss his opportunity to make Maria his bride on Sunday.
The two met 35 years ago in Brakpan through mutual friends.
“Never thinking that we would meet up again 30 years later, both be single and get married this time around,” Gary added.
The couple, who live in Delmas, initially planned a while back to wed on Saturday.
“When I awoke on Saturday and realised what had happened, my wife and I looked at alternative solutions to getting married,” he said.
“She then contacted the sisters from the trauma side to see if they could assist us with the marriage.
“We were concerned that I would not make it much longer so Sister Gerda told us to leave it with her and she would make the necessary arrangements for us to marry.”
The guests were then notified about the change of wedding plans.
“When I make a promise, I do my best to keep it and the decision to marry in hospital was mutual,” Gary said.
“I would like to express on behalf of both my wife and myself our extreme gratitude to all involved in giving us the permission needed and who assisted in the process of the wedding.”
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