The CVICU team helped a patient have a commitment ceremony at his bedside.

The patient was engaged and had a marriage certificate to get married before he got sick. He had a prolonged hospitalization, so the marriage certificate expired. He was on life support, had heart surgery, spent time on bipap, then heated high-flow oxygen demands. Sharon cared for this patient with her preceptee Ryan Womble. Each day, four days in a row, he asked to please get married. It started to be a joke: "Okay, your bride is coming." "We’ve got to get you shaved; your bride is coming."

On the fourth day, Sharon and Ryan called the chaplain team. The chaplain said they could do a commitment ceremony, as he was adamant he didn’t want to wait anymore. His fiancé agreed to do it at his bedside that afternoon. Sharon took our fake flowers from the unit vase so she could have a bouquet and gave the fiancé and daughter a patient gown so they wouldn’t feel out of place. His daughter went and brought the rings from the house.

Stephanie called Joey, and they graciously provided an elaborate table with punch, glasses, and a cheesecake! 

Carol from the chaplain services team provided the commitment ceremony, and B was able to toast his new wife with punch (on a mouth sponge). 

We took pictures of them with their cell phones. We made signs for their ICU doors, “Just Married," decorated the glass doors with Valentine's heart window clings, and the whole unit toasted their new commitment to one another. Sharon was able to give a toast through tears of joy to her patient. 

It was truly beautiful and absolutely a multidisciplinary team affair.