Over the years, hospitals have relaxed rules about children and even pets visiting patients. And some hospitals will go the extra distance to make life as normal as possible for patients in need. Chelsea Barkley was engaged to Jordan Harper, and when her mother, cancer patient Kim Sherwood, was given a prognosis of about a week to live, she and Jordan and the hospital staff went into high gear to make sure her mother would witness their wedding. Wedding vendors helped out with donations for the wedding, put together in only 48 hours and held at the hospital. That included photographer Wendy Teal, who shot the wedding for free.
As Teal arrived to shoot the wedding, she realized that not only was it the same hospital where both of her parents died of stage 4 cancer, but the ceremony was taking place in the exact same room where her mother's funeral was held.
When Teal's mother died, the doctor's told her that her father wouldn't be able to leave the hospital to attend a funeral, so staff members let Teal hold the funeral inside the hospital. Her father was able to say his final goodbyes, and died five hours later.
While Teal decided to not to share her history with the bride and groom, given the stress they were already under, some staff members recognized her and couldn't believe she agreed to shoot the ceremony.
Teal said that this was an opportunity to pay it forward. The wedding was beautiful, despite tears from the bride, mother of the bride, and others. You can see more pictures of the wedding at Buzzfeed.
(Image credit: Wendy Teal Photography)