The solemnity of the commitment was really important to me."Īfter the ceremony, Norina was very tired, but was able to briefly share cupcakes with her loved ones. "Saying them to him and knowing how much he meant them to me -that was the most significant standout of the day. "Our vows were so, so meaningful," Norina said. During their traditional vows, Norina's voice cracked when she promised to love and cherish Ray "until we are parted by death." "The love with which everybody did it really made it a happy day for us." Until we are parted by deathĪt about 6:30 p.m., 12 hours after Ray had told Norina they were getting married, they exchanged vows in the hospital chapel while 30 family members, friends, and medical caregivers surrounded them. A friend came to do Norina's hair and makeup, though Norina insisted on putting the final touches on herself. A friend of a friend organized flowers, and the post office worked with Ray's brother so he could take the day off at the last minute. Nurses helped Norina into her dress and found cupcakes for the celebration. Her doctors and the chaplain checked in with Norina to ensure she had the cognitive ability to agree to the marriage, and she told them she was thrilled. When a nurse asked whether she'd rather get married in the chapel, the staff searched high and low for a hospital bed that would fit through the doors. He phoned family from around the state, and they started driving the hours to Memorial Hermann in Houston, where Norina was receiving treatment.Īt the hospital, the ICU team was already decorating Norina's hospital room. Everyone pitched in to make the day happyĪfter leaving the hospital that morning, Ray started making calls. "I needed more than just being her boyfriend or fiancé," he said. He had a fitful night's sleep in Norina's hospital bed, watching nurses poke and prod her. It was a bit of denial, he said.Īfter that meeting with the oncologist, Ray knew he had to act. But Norina wanted to get married in a church, and Ray wanted to make that happen. The couple had marriage in the works: They had the dress, the rings, and even the marriage certificate. Norina didn't want to focus on statistics - she wanted to continue to give cancer "a hell of a fight." But her oncology team had a blunt message: She really needed to do it quickly if she was going to get married. The day before, the couple had had a meeting with Norina's oncology team. They were told they'd better marry quickly "I wanted to make a promise to her that our love is forever," Ray said.
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