The Eighth Floor Balcony at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center turned into an impromptu wedding venue today as one of the hospital’s most serious Corona cases was blessed to marry his bride in the company of friends, family, and the medical teams that helped save his life.

The wedding ceremony, made possible in partnership with the Tikva U’Marpeh organization left a few dry eyes. The groom, A, a resident of Rishon Letzion has been a patient at Shaare Zedek for the past 60 days. Just two weeks ago, his doctors were unsure if he’d even survive as he was in critical condition and had to be connected to an ECMO life-support machine.

A has been engaged to L for the past 11 months. Just two months ago, after contracting Corona, his condition deteriorated requiring hospitalization at Shaare Zedek. Within days of arrival, his condition required being connected to the ECMO machine. Over the following weeks, his condition would improve allowing him to be removed from the machine but later again deteriorated forcing him back on ECMO for the second time.

As L witnessed the doctors fight for her loved one’s life, she made a vow that if he would survive they would get married as soon as possible – even if that meant the wedding would take place in the hospital.

L shared her vow with Esti Bernstein, a social worker for the Corona ward, and Esti promised she would do everything she could to help the couple have their dream wedding- despite the obvious challenges.

What was at one time thought of as a miracle came to pass and A slowly began to recover and was removed from the ECMO. The couple chose the soonest possible date for the wedding and the hospital staff of social workers, nurses, and physicians set about making the wedding possible in conjunction with Tikva U’Marpeh.

The result was a fully produced wedding with a gorgeous chuppah adorned with flowers overlooking the Jerusalem landscape, lighting, musical accompaniment, and a bridal gown donated by designer Odeliah Mizarachi. Everything came together within 24 hours.

“I am so thankful for this clear miracle and the compassion of the One Above who sent these remarkable angels who cared and continue to care for A so that he will be able to be back on his feet in the near future. I am so thankful to the dedicated medical team led by Prof. Philip Levin, Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Shaare Zedek, and all the nurses. I have been given back the gift of the love of my life,” L said.

Prof. Levin in attendance for the wedding said. “This is truly the rarest of cases where a patient recovers to this extent. We are so grateful that we were able to treat this case in this best way possible and wish the couple only happiness and health.”

Dvora Agasi, Director of Tikva U’Marpeh said, “It is so moving to be able to join with the hospital staff that gave so much for their patients and to have a part in this remarkable story and making this chuppah possible.”