Kathleen Swallow was paralyzed just two weeks before her wedding in Scotland, but with her own efforts and the assistance of medical professionals, she was able to have a complete wedding celebration.
Ten years ago, Kathleen Swallow, from Paisley, England, met and fell in love with Eddie. After a period of dating, they decided to get married, but had to postpone it due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When the pandemic subsided, they resumed planning for their wedding, only for Kathleen to be diagnosed with Guillain Barre syndrome just two weeks before the big day.
The rare illness left her completely paralyzed from the knees down, but Kathleen was determined to still get married. With the help of medical professionals and her own perseverance, Kathleen’s condition stabilized, and she was able to attend her wedding with the assistance of hospital staff just a few days later.
Her family even organized a small celebration at the hospital the night before the wedding, where her sister-in-law helped her with her hair and friends helped decorate her wheelchair.
Kathleen was grateful for all the support she received and was moved by the kindness of her loved ones. People were excited to see her wedding dress and were concerned about the wedding venue, constantly asking if she needed anything. Kathleen was touched by the kindness of everyone involved.
On March 5th, doctors agreed to release Kathleen from the hospital for one day, and the couple got married at a beautiful location in Glasgow, surrounded by friends and family.
The image of the bride walking down the aisle brought many to tears. With the support of her wheelchair, Kathleen walked down the aisle with happiness and the help of her mother and sister-in-law.
“It was a beautiful day. I was dancing and lost in the lively atmosphere,” Kathleen reminisced. After the wedding, Kathleen had to return to the hospital to focus on her treatment. She will have six months to fully recover and hopes to be completely healed before starting her honeymoon in November in New York City.
When she returned to her hospital room, many nurses lined the hallway to congratulate her. Not only did they decorate the room with balloons and banners, but they also arranged a guest bed for Eddie to stay.
Everyone tried their best to make the atmosphere special. “I can’t believe the efforts they put in,” the emotional bride said. Lorna Loudon, the head nurse at the hospital, said: “On behalf of everyone at the hospital, I want to congratulate Kathleen and Eddie and thank her for her kind words. It’s great to know that our staff has gone above and beyond to support patients and their loved ones.”