A five year old with a terminal illness saw his last wish granted recently, when he witnessed his parents get married by his hospital bedside.
Corey Edwards, from Devon, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect when he was less than a year old, and spent a large chunk of his life being cared for by the staff at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
A little-known law, passed by Henry VIII, allowed the Archbishop of Canterbury to grant special dispensation for the hospital to host its very first wedding and many of the staff pitched in to make sure it went off without a hitch.
Young Corey, wearing a suit and holding the rings for his parents, was not able take his eyes off his mother during the emotional ceremony.
It’s certainly not only a professional wedding photographer from North West England that understands how momentous an occasion this was for the family.
The staff at the hospital, which had become like a second family to Corey, deserves special praise for organising the special day within 48 hours of the family requesting it.
Corey’s parents, Craig and Jemma Edwards, also deserve the highest of praise for carrying off the special request with such poise on what must have been a very bittersweet day.
Corey passed away five days after his parents got married, though he can rest peacefully in the knowledge he shared in his parent’s happy day, and Craig and Jemma were keen for this poignant story to be told.
