Hospital staff host heartwarming ceremony for pregnant couple
With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting special events all over the world, especially weddings, one Bay Area couple in the US weren’t the exception - but their attempts to tie the knot came with several big surprises.
Californian Jeff Nunes and his now-wife Fatima, have been together for 12 years and trying for a baby for a while.
They were also due to marry last year, but the ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic.
But, this year Fatima found out she was pregnant, and when she was taken to the hospital for issues with her kidney and bladder last week, there was talk that the baby could come at any time.
“The patient mentioned that she would like to get married before having birth,” said Deedee Pubien, the unit director of the Birth Center at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.
The staff prepared a surprise for the couple - a small outdoor wedding in the hospital’s garden courtyard on the hospital’s third floor.
“When I walked in to get married to my wife. Just her, myself, and a witness, there was a whole ceremony planned for us!” Jeff said.
“I’m standing there on the edge of the carpet with rose petals that nurses and doctors threw down and [Fatima] comes out and has a wedding gown on and she is pregnant of course. Eight months pregnant looking beautiful, amazing, and she starts crying, then I start crying with joy,” he continued.
Pubien said: “Seeing their faces, seeing their smiles and their tears - but out of joy, that was the best moment.”
And, just 24 hours after they toasted the newlywed couple with non-alcoholic sparkling cider, Fatima went into labour and gave birth to their son, Logan.
“I’m a dad, I’m happy, and I don’t think there are any words that can explain that. Just happiness, pure happiness,” Jeff said.
Baby Logan was born four and a half weeks premature, but his dad says he is healthy, happy, and beautiful.
With the surprising turn of events, the new dad has advice for others in similar situations.
“Don’t give up. We didn’t think it was going to happen and it did, and we are blessed, and we prayed and we were given a wonderful blessing in our life that we are going to nurture and take care of,” he said.
Image: UCSF Health / Instagram