HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — After an unexpected medical emergency, wedding bells rang at the Memorial Healthcare System Cardiac and Vascular Institute this week.

Chris Hamilton was preparing to board a cruise for his wedding and was admitted to Memorial Regional Hospital for emergency heart surgery following a massive heart attack.

The cruise sailed off without the couple, but they still managed to get married thanks to the help of Hamilton’s cardiac team.

The happy groom and bride said yes to each other during a make-shift wedding in Hamilton’s cardiac intensive care unit.

Hamilton and his bride, Jenny Lamontagne, traveled all the way from Maine with nearly 30 of their closest family and friends. Days before they were all expected to board a cruise ship with their group, Hamilton complained of severe chest discomfort.

From the music, flowers and officiant to the cake, it was all hands-on deck to help the ceremony come to fruition and the team at Memorial happily put all the pieces together.

Debbe Hopkins is a social worker with Memorial Regional Hospital. She helped the happy couple get the information they needed to formalize their union.

“If we were anywhere else, we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” said Lamontagne.

Dr. Michael Cortelli, Chief of the Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute, performed Hamilton’s bypass surgery and said Hamilton deserved to have his celebration.

“It’s a surprise but not a surprise. It’s what we do every day, and we have an incredible team. We are caregivers and we felt that he missed an important day in his life and the team wanted to make it happen,” said Cortelli.

Hamilton is doing well and is expected to be cleared to travel back home to Maine in the next few days.

This marks the third wedding celebrated at Memorial Healthcare System in the past year, a testament to the compassion and dedication of its staff who go above and beyond for patients and their families.

Click here for more information on how you can support Hamilton’s recovery.

From the port to the ER: Bride and groom unexpectedly tie the knot at Memorial Regional Hospital

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