Staff at University Hospital Wishaw organised a deeply moving wedding ceremony for a terminally ill patient, making sure she could marry the love of her life.
Colleagues from the Coronary Care Unit and Medical High Dependency Unit arranged the special ceremony for Maggie Leaker, who married her partner of 26 years, Stephen Langford, both from Motherwell, in the hospital sanctuary.
The now Mrs Maggie Langford said: “After 26 years together, being able to finally marry Stephen meant everything to me.
“I’m so grateful to all the staff at University Hospital Wishaw who made our wedding possible. They showed so much kindness, care and love to both me and my family.
“Having our wedding in the sanctuary, surrounded by our loved ones and the staff who cared for me, made the day truly special.”
Nurses and support staff transformed the sanctuary into a place of celebration, coordinating every detail at short notice to fulfil the couple’s wish.
Denise Bryce and Wendy Morrison are nurses from the Coronary Care Unit who cared for Maggie and both played a big part in making the wedding possible.
Wendy said: “It was a privilege to be part of something so special for Maggie and Stephen. As a team, we wanted to do everything we could to make this happen. It was an emotional day for everyone involved.
“We care for patients during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. We were delighted to help Maggie and her family create such a precious memory.”
Denise said: “From the moment Maggie shared her wish to marry Stephen, everyone wanted to do whatever we could to make it happen. It became something really special for all of us to be part of.
“Seeing Maggie surrounded by her family, smiling and able to enjoy such an important moment after everything she has been through was incredibly emotional. It was a privilege for our team to help create memories that Maggie and her loved ones will cherish.”
The ceremony brought together family members and many of the staff who had been caring for Maggie throughout her stay at University Hospital Wishaw, with some staff attending on their day off to support the couple.
Maggie’s daughter, Samantha Leaker, paid tribute to both her mum and the staff who made the day possible.
Samantha said: “My mum has the most caring heart. She is so selfless and has always been there for all of us, even through her own battles. She is full of laughs and makes genuine friendships everywhere she goes. Despite everything she has been through, she still manages to smile every day.”
Samantha explained that, although Maggie and Stephen had spoken about marriage for years, they had never managed to arrange a wedding.
Samantha said: “When Harry, the Chaplain at the hospital, came to speak with mum, he asked her what her hopes and wishes were. Mum said she really wanted to marry Stephen. From there, everyone worked so quickly to make it happen.”
Originally planned for a later date, the ceremony was brought forward before Maggie moved to St Andrew’s Hospice. The wedding took place just two days later.
Samantha added: “The support was second to none. Wendy cared for my mum on the morning of the wedding, making sure everything medically was okay, but she also styled mum’s hair and even brought a mirror from home so mum could see herself before going down the aisle. She thought of things we as a family didn’t even think about.
“The staff decorated mum’s room with balloons and banners, we even had a wedding cake. They made the whole day feel so special. During the ceremony, the nurses stayed close by to make sure mum was comfortable and cared for at every moment. They are angels on this earth.”
The groom, Stephen Langford, also thanked staff for making the wedding possible.
Stephen said: “I can’t thank the staff enough for what they did for us. They made our wish come true and that means everything to me and our family. It was a beautiful moment that we will always treasure.”
The family say they continue to speak about the wedding every day and now treasure the photographs and videos taken at the ceremony.
Angela Dixon, Director of Hospital Services at University Hospital Wishaw, said: “This was an incredibly moving occasion and I am so proud of the compassion shown by our staff.
“Maggie and Stephen’s wedding was a beautiful moment for their family, and it meant so much to our teams to be able to help make it happen.
“The kindness, teamwork and person-centred care demonstrated by everyone involved truly reflects the values of University Hospital Wishaw and NHS Lanarkshire.”
