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A terminally ill cancer patient in Georgia received his dying dream to marry his lover last week, owing to the assistance of hospital staff. Last November, Alexander Santos was diagnosed with a non-seminoma germ cell tumor, and doctors warned him it was deadly. Despite treatment, the cancer spread to other places of the body from its original location.
Santos has been in and out of hospitals since his diagnosis. He told his Piedmont Columbus Regional nurse this week that he wanted to marry his high school love Heather. They began dating after high school and have been together for three years, with a two-year-old son. Santos and Heather married in a hospital room four days after he told medical workers that one of his dying wishes was to marry.
According to Fox 5, the medical personnel assisted the pair in finding a wedding gown and tuxedo, as well as a priest. They also assisted the couple in obtaining a marriage license, a wedding cake, and a reception.
“All we want to do is make every life special, so that even in their last moments they remember the good things, not the bad,” oncology nurse manager Ngozi Onukwue told WTVM.
Santos and his wife were joined by family and friends at the hospital to celebrate. “I’m with the person I love and wouldn’t change anything for the world,” Santos remarked following the ceremony.
Doctors are unsure how long Santos will live, but they are relieved that he will spend his last days with Heather. Santos’ medical expenditures have subsequently been covered through a GoFundMe account put up by the couple’s family.
