Couple marries at hospital so bride’s father can have last wish, see her walk down aisle

LUBBOCK, Texas (Gray News) - A hospital staff in Texas helped one of their patients take part in a very special day.

Michelle Avila and Antonio Moreno said they wanted their parents to attend their wedding but Avila’s father, Jose Antonio Avila, had been admitted on Feb. 22 to UMC Health System.

According to “Good Morning America,” Jose Antonio Avila was hospitalized with norovirus but developed complications, including interstitial lung disease.

Michelle Avila said her father’s final wish was to see her get married. So, the couple said why wait.

Soon, the couple started asking hospital staffers how they could make it happen.

The couple said they envisioned a small bedside ceremony, but hospital staff turned it into more than they could have imagined with a full ceremony on March 8.

Michelle Avila shared that it meant the world to have her father there to witness their wedding.

The medical intensive care unit staff at UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, helped arrange a... — The medical intensive care unit staff at UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, helped arrange a last-minute wedding ceremony on Mar. 8.(UMC Health System/LOCAL NEWS X/TMX)

“You could just see it in his eyes. He was joyful. He kept thanking everyone for that moment and … even the next morning, before his health took a turn, he kept thanking the doctors and the nurses, just [saying] how grateful he was to have that moment with family,” GMA quoted the bride.

Jose Antonio Avila, 65, ended up dying five days after seeing his daughter get married.

Michelle Avila said she was able to spend time with her dad and that he told her he couldn’t have been more grateful.

“He was just like, ‘I feel God answered every wish that I could ask for -- and for that, I’m eternally grateful for everyone, every single person on that day,’” Michelle Avila shared.