Dying father couldn't leave hospital bed to attend son’s wedding — so the nurses did something incredible to fulfill his final wish
Being a part of your child’s wedding day is a dream many parents look forward to for years. A dad named Harry Sweppenneiser was unfortunately very close to not being able to see this dream come true, 6 ABC Philadelphia reported. Bedridden in the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Harry would have to skip his son, Allen’s big day and with his final days nearing, it was heartbreaking to witness the sight. The staff at the center decided they would try to bring as much positivity to this situation as they could and rendered a heart-melting gesture for the dying dad on his son’s wedding day.
Harry was battling an infection in his lower body and had both of his legs amputated. He was too sick to make it out of his bed at the hospital, much less the 2-hour drive to the place where the nuptials would be held. When Harry and Brynn learned of the situation, they knew they had to do whatever it takes to have their dad participate in this important milestone. The nurses at the Medical Center were as eager to help their patient witness his son’s wedding. In a post shared by Penn Presbyterian, it was revealed that Nurse Manager Julie Seman, together with her team, drafted a precious surprise.
"To leave a lasting positive experience is truly a gift. We don’t just treat the disease, we treat the whole patient,” Seman noted, and so, they got down to business. "As soon as we learned that his dad wasn't going to be able to be there, it was all hands on deck," Brynn noted. The nurses started prepping by arranging for a livestream in Harry’s room so he could witness the nuptials. "We went right to the idea of doing a livestream, which proved to be technically very challenging, so I got my whole IT department involved," Seman recounted. Nevertheless, the team was bent on making it happen. However, that was not all.
A day before the wedding, one of the nurses gave Harry a haircut. Another made a boutonniere and yet another nurse got him an outfit. On the big day, the newlyweds dropped in at the hospital to surprise Harry. With the bride and groom completely dressed, it was a visual that, in a way, fulfilled the dad’s wishes. Welcoming them with open arms, Harry was beyond delighted to give them his blessing. Allen noted that his dad’s reaction was “everything.” “I wish he were there in person but it was better that everyone teamed up to make this happen," he added.
Unfortunately, Harry passed away late in October but that memory will be forever etched in his and his family’s hearts. The little things that hold significance are where the heart of medical care lies, according to the nurse. She remarked, "There's nothing like it. It's why you go into healthcare. It's why you help people.” Denise commented, “This man was well loved and you really can’t ask for more than that.” Pat Smith Sorber added, “Thank you for all you did to make Harry part of his son’s wedding. Absolutely amazing.”
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