A quick-thinking bride has managed to plan her entire wedding in just two weeks, so that her terminally ill mother could see her ‘get married’ at LOROS on Thursday.
A wedding blessing was held at the chapel of the Hospice last week, for Katie Checketts and her fiancé Edward Rowsell, an occasion brought forward especially for Katie’s mother, Ann.
Ann, 67, who was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer in October 2013, was admitted to the LOROS ward earlier this month after her health started to deteriorate rapidly.
“I wanted mum to see me get married and when we mentioned it to the staff at LOROS, they said we could have a blessing in the chapel at the Hospice,” said 28-year-old Katie, of Shepshed, who got engaged to Edward on Valentine’s Day of last year.
“We made a few contacts and spoke to our local priest, in Loughborough and he said he would come to LOROS to take the blessing, so the decision was made, the ceremony would take place on 16th March at the Hospice.”
With that, Katie and her bridesmaids took to the shops of Leicestershire to find her perfect bridal dress.
“The girls got on the case and my maid of honour organised a whole day of bridal appointments,” said Katie, who is a teacher at Hugglescote Primary School, in Coalville.
“We found the perfect dress and the woman managed to get all of the alterations done in just a few days, dropping it off just the day before the ceremony.
“We also chose an outfit for mum and when we took it to her on the ward and it fitted perfectly, it was amazing.”
In just a matter of days, the bridesmaids had chosen their dresses, the flowers were ordered, a friend of the couple offered to make a cake and the husband of the Maid of Honour offered to play the cello during the ceremony.
“As the blessing is not a legal agreement, we have also booked in a church wedding for the beginning of April but we are not sure whether mum will be able to attend,” added Katie.
“The same priest who is doing the church wedding did our blessing and the photographer who is shooting the church ceremony also offered to photograph the blessing, free of charge. “We only wanted close family and friends to attend and despite the short notice, we managed to have 25 people there.”
On the morning of the blessing, Katie was able to have her nails, hair and make-up done in Ann’s room on the ward and they were both treated to a massage by one of the Hospice’s complementary therapists.
Ann, who was “determined” to walk down to the chapel, managed to walk arm in arm with her husband and Katie’s father, George, followed by the bride and her bridesmaids.
“The other patients and nurses lined the corridor as we walked down to the chapel, it was lovely,” said Katie.
Following the ceremony, the couple and their guests enjoyed a glass of fizz and a buffet, put on by the LOROS catering team.
“Everything worked out so well, it just goes to show that anything really is possible,” added Katie.
Ann said that the day was everything she had wished for.
“I promised myself and Ann that she would see Katie get married,” said Katie’s father, 69-year-old George.
“Ann looked glowing, the day really uplifted her. It was so moving to see Ann’s eyes shining. “The whole day was absolutely fantastic.”
Katie and Edward’s church ceremony will be taking place on 1st April.
