OhioHealth Helps Patients Say 'I Do' with Wedding and Vow Renewal
This August, the warmth of wedding season found its way into two OhioHealth hospitals. At OhioHealth Grant Medical Center and OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital, care teams helped patients and families celebrate love in ways they’ll never forget.
On August 9, McKinley and Darlene Jewell of Mansfield were celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary while McKinley was hospitalized in the critical care unit at Grant Medical Center. With the help of chaplains, the care team organized a vow renewal ceremony right in McKinley’s hospital room.
“Our team does an incredible job collaborating across disciplines to create meaningful moments for patients and their families whenever possible,” said Logan Griffith, nurse manager at Grant.
When a bedside nurse learned from the patient’s family that the couple was celebrating their anniversary, associates jumped in to make it a day to remember, complete with a bouquet, boutonniere and other special touches.
“The entire interdisciplinary team, including nurses, providers, physical and occupational therapy, came together to witness the celebration,” said Griffith. “Our administrative intern even caught the bouquet during the toss.”
Griffith said the celebration was unforgettable. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. The couple and their family were incredibly grateful to celebrate such a meaningful milestone during an otherwise uncertain time in the hospital.”
Just days later, on August 21, another love story unfolded at Pickerington Methodist. Rob Kelly arrived at the emergency department with symptoms of confusion, and tests revealed a brain mass requiring specialized care. Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, his overall health was remarkably strong. In the midst of difficult conversations about his future, Rob proposed to his longtime partner, Mayla.
The Pickerington team immediately came together to make their wedding happen. The couple exchanged vows in the hospital chapel, surrounded by associates who worked quickly to add personal touches - a bouquet and boutonniere in Mayla’s favorite colors red, purple and pink, and playing “Bubbles Up,” for her love of Jimmy Buffett’s music.
“I was rounding on the unit and the nurse mentioned to me, ‘We’re having a wedding,’” said Dettra Bailey, nurse manager at Pickerington. “We found the chaplain, and we started coming up with ideas to make the moment as special as we could. Many gathered, and the couple wanted everyone in their pictures. I even wrote down everyone’s name on a celebration card so they could remember who was part of it.”
She recently checked on the couple after Rob’s surgery. “He’s expecting a long recovery, so they are grateful that we were able to do this. I think the wedding was something all of us will remember.”
Both nurse managers said moments like these are a reminder of what drives the teams at OhioHealth.
“Compassion and empathy are at the heart of working in healthcare,” Bailey said. “We are all just here to hopefully make our patients’ day just a little better.”
Griffith agreed, “These magical moments aren’t rare exceptions, they reflect the everyday dedication of our teams. This illustrates how we can and do celebrate the positive and honor the human spirit, even during life’s most difficult times.”
