A retired Army colonel and his bride said “I do” in an Alabama emergency room after a health scare threatened to derail their wedding day.
John Como, 79, and his then-fiancée Diane were en route to get their marriage certificate notarized on Sept. 5 when his doctor called with alarming bloodwork results. The couple immediately diverted to Huntsville Hospital’s emergency department, where nurse practitioner Beth Gates discovered their thwarted plans.
“They were such a sweet couple, it was the least I could do,” Gates said.
She tracked down Shoyna Alexander, a notary who works in the hospital’s security office, and brought her to ER exam room C-29. John wore a hospital gown while Diane arrived in a white pantsuit with a black-and-white checkered blouse. An onlooking ER patient, Samantha Ring, crafted yellow paper rings for the ceremony. The groom leaned forward from his hospital bed to kiss his bride after they signed their certificate and exchanged vows.
“It just warmed our hearts that they would care enough to do that,” John said.
“We were in this terrible situation of having to go to the emergency department, but they made it a golden moment. People need to know that the staff at Huntsville Hospital has a heart.”
Licensed nurse Keria Lightfoot purchased flowers, cupcakes, plastic champagne flutes and sparkling grape juice for the impromptu reception. ER attendant Nolan Bearden constructed a “Just Married” sign to complete the festivities, with staffers carefully working around IV lines and medical equipment.
John was admitted to the oncology unit following the ceremony and remained hospitalized until his release on Sept. 23.
The couple’s romance began after John lost his wife of more than 40 years approximately a year prior. He and Diane had known each other throughout their lives before beginning their relationship.
