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Hospice carries out truly special wedding
11 November 2010
AN EXCEPTIONAL wedding took place at Saint Francis Hospice this weekend. Although Cliff Burnett has Motor Neurone Disease which has left him unable to speak or even to turn and watch his bride, Kym Thompson, walk down the aisle, the couple exchanged vows on Saturday 6 November.
After winning a battle with throat and tongue cancer in 2008, Cliff, 55, from Dagenham, was diagnosed with MND after collapsing in March this year. He is kept breathing by a life support machine, and requires constant attention from a team of carers and nurses, who live with him 24/7 to monitor his condition, as well as frequent visits from the hospice nursing team. This would have made a wedding in any other venue impossible.
A small ceremony was held in the hospice chapel, which could only accommodate 18 guests, including the couple’s Yorkshire terrier - and ring bearer - Cookie.
Hospice fundraising staff rallied round local businesses in an attempt to make their day as special as possible. As a result, Kym arrived in a vintage car, kindly donated by Essex Wedding Cars, and Jacki’s Florist in Hutton decked out the chapel and provided the bride’s bouquet, free of charge.
During the service, Nissi Grint, Cliff’s niece, sung ‘I Knew Love’ by Nanci Griffith, to the couple, and best friend Eve Collif read a few words, in which she said: “You are a truly incredible couple. We’ve been blessed to share good times and bad together, and today’s got to be the best we could ever have hoped to share. Like most of you I’ve been to many weddings over the y
ears but I’ve not been to one as special as today. Your love for each other is truly remarkable.”
Cliff has been unable to speak since March, but is still able to move his eyes, and usually chats to his partner through a series of eye movements they have devised together.
He married the love of his life by writing his vows into a light writer, a text to speak communication aid. He was able to type his vows into the machine using his index finger, which he also used to sign the register.
Following the emotional service, a hospice volunteer photographer snapped the happy couple in the grounds, while guests enjoyed a glass of Buck’s Fizz and a bite to eat, which were also kindly donated.
Hospice chaplaincy team leader, Stephen Henwood, conducted the wedding. He said: “It was a pleasure to conduct the marriage of Kym and Cliff, who are dealing with such difficult circumstances. It was a delight to be able to give them the wedding they wanted.”
Kym said: “It was beautiful. If there is such thing as real magic, that day was it. Saint Francis Hospice was perfect, the surroundings, the way the building was, it was just so inviting. If I had all the money in the world it couldn’t have been any better, the things you did for us were amazing.”
The couple had a reception near their home on Dagenham Road on Saturday evening. To end the night, they lit Chinese lanterns decorated with love hearts. “We all made wishes as they flew off,” said Kym. “It was the perfect end to the perfect day.”
