First wedding at hospital chapel

9:41am Wednesday 9th July 2008

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WINCHESTER hospital chapel hosted its first wedding ceremony yesterday (July 8) when a woman with terminal cancer married her fiance.

Abby Gresham-Burchell married her partner of seven years, Thomas John, in the chapel of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

See the wedding video

The bride, who has battled cancer for four years, said it was poignant her wedding coincided with the 60th birthday of the National Health Service.

She said: "Without the NHS, I would not be here at all. I have such a lot to thank the NHS for and the fantastic staff who have been so supportive."

The couple, who have a five-year-old daughter Lottie, had previously planned to marry but Abby, 43, who lives in Medstead near Alton had been too ill.

After she was rushed to hospital just last week the pair, who have seven children between them, decided to get hitched in hospital.

Thomas, a 44-year-old German who works for a wine bottling company, went down on bended knee beside Abby's hospital bed to make her dream romantic proposal complete with diamond ring.

Then, thanks to nurses plus family and friends who rallied round, the couple were able to have a wedding with all the trappings.

Nurses on Freshfield Ward turned wedding planners to organise a reception for 50 in the hospital canteen paid for by the ward's charitable fund while hospital chefs baked a wedding cake.

Friends and family meanwhile provided champagne, flowers, orders of service and music as well as rushing to get a wedding licence in time.

Last night mum-of-four Abby, dressed in an elegant cream outfit, sat facing Thomas during the ceremony, with a throng of family, friends, nurses, hospital staff and passing well-wishers watching on from the edges of the chapel.

The bridesmaids - Abby's two youngest daughters, five-year-old Lottie and 11-year-old Laura - wore white dresses with sparkling silver shoes and silver flower bows in their hair. She has two older children - Callam, 13 and Katie, 16.

Speaking the day before her wedding, the bride-to-be, said: "I just want it to be a very happy, joyous occasion for everyone - a celebration."

She added: "My cancer is classed as a terminal disease but I just take it one day at a time really and pray that God will decide whether I get over it or not.

"Nobody knows when their life will end, but people should be more aware of how lucky we are each day and not think of all the negative things all the time. But I can say that because I am in the fortunate position of being very well looked after."

She paid tribute to her surgeon, Dr Andrew Miles, who was invited to the wedding along with other doctors and nurses who involved in her care.

Abby was 39 when she was first diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has had three operations and doctors say she is unlikely to survive further surgery.

But the brave mother-of-four said: "My cancer is very difficult to treat and my doctors are trying to find an alternative treatment but without them I would not have had the last few years with my children."

The wedding was conducted by Rev Howard Wright, vicar of The Good Shepherd in Four Marks.

Abby was also confirmed a member of the Anglican Church by the Bishop of Basingstoke, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, in a separate ceremony in the hospital chapel the same day.

She said her Christian faith had helped her cope with her illness.

Mr Andrew Miles, consultant surgeon, said: "I am always amazed at the incredible bravery shown by patients with cancer. Abby has derived great strength from her faith and the whole team is supporting her in her marriage. It is the first time any of us have been involved with a wedding in the hospital."