Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Chicago couple hold hospital wedding 24 hours before critical surgery

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Chicago Couple Hold Hospital Wedding 24 Hours Before Critical Surgery

A Last-Minute Ceremony Brings Comfort and Joy Amid Uncertainty

Just three weeks before Annesley Clark and Christine Corso were set to get married, the Chicago couple found themselves sharing their “I dos” early in a hospital waiting room.

A Rare Condition and a Life-Threatening Diagnosis

Clark, 33, has a rare condition called Magic Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that caused a fungal bloodstream infection and mass in their heart that required immediate surgery, Clark said. But Clark’s chances of surviving the surgery weren’t high, which is why Clark and Corso decided to go forward with their wedding the day before Clark was due for the operation, they said.

A Team Effort to Make the Wedding Happen

With 24 hours to plan, Clark and Corso’s loved ones and a team of nurses at Northwestern Medicine scrambled to give the couple a memorable wedding during an uncertain time. “It was like everyone immediately sprung into action to make this work,” Corso said.

A Hospital Wedding Like No Other

The hospital allowed up to 20 guests, and the couple’s loved ones and nurses decorated the waiting room with balloons and printed out letters spelling, “Just married,” Corso said. A friend who flew in from Seattle for the ceremony played the fiddle, and two other close friends officiated, Corso said.

A Sense of Comfort and Joy

For Clark, the ceremony gave them a sense of comfort knowing they were going into the surgery having been able to say their vows and “say in no uncertain terms to Christine that they are the world and the sun to me, and that I’m grateful for every second we’ve had together.”

A Successful Surgery and Recovery

The morning of Clark’s surgery, the overnight nurses who weren’t able to attend the wedding lined up outside their hospital room and cheered Clark on as they were wheeled into surgery. Doctors successfully removed the mass, they said. Clark spent the next two weeks recovering in the intensive-care unit before returning home Nov. 4, they said.

A GoFundMe Campaign to Support Recovery

To support Clark’s recovery, the couple has launched a GoFundMe campaign raising money to offset the costs of their care and ongoing medical needs. Clark has said the outpouring of support they’ve received from their community has helped them get through the most challenging parts of their recovery.

Gratitude and Appreciation

Clark also said they were “enormously grateful” for the staff at Northwestern for making sure they’ve felt welcome and recognized throughout their stays at the hospital. “Being chronically ill and disabled in the hospital can feel very isolating, like you’re alone in a room or just a number,” Clark said. “But I have felt so authentically and genuinely connected to the nurses and doctors there, and these connections with them have made my days at the hospital feel less bleak.”

Conclusion

In the face of uncertainty and adversity, Annesley Clark and Christine Corso found a way to make their love shine through a last-minute hospital wedding. Their story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and community.

FAQs

Q: What is Magic Syndrome?
A: Magic Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease that caused a fungal bloodstream infection and mass in Annesley Clark’s heart.

Q: Why did Annesley and Christine decide to get married in the hospital?
A: They decided to get married in the hospital because Annesley’s chances of surviving surgery weren’t high, and they wanted to make the most of the time they had together.

Q: How did the hospital staff support Annesley and Christine?
A: The hospital staff, including nurses and doctors, went above and beyond to make the wedding happen and provide support to the couple during their stay.

Q: How can people support Annesley and Christine’s recovery?
A: People can support Annesley and Christine’s recovery by donating to their GoFundMe campaign, which is raising money to offset the costs of their care and ongoing medical needs.

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