Hospital staff pulls off surprise wedding for patient

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — When Junior Bickford was admitted to Erie Shores HealthCare on the evening of May 24, he fully expected to be released in time for his wedding on the weekend of June 28, but when his knee surgery infection took longer to heal than expected, they moved the wedding back to July 3.

On Friday, July 2, with no release from hospital still in sight, Junior made a comment to one of the staff that he had to once again postpone his wedding.

That comment set the wheels in motion that would culminate in a wedding ceremony on the grounds of Erie Shores HealthCare on Saturday, July 3.

Will Cowell, right, performs the service, while Christine Cowell and Junior Bickford, seated, take their vows, surrounded by Junior’s children, Nicole, Crystal and Joe.

Junior’s fiancée, Christine Cowell, was asked to dress up and show up at Erie Shores HealthCare for 10 am Saturday morning, not knowing what was in store for her.

“This came as a surprise to me,” she said before the service. “Junior just said that the staff had something special planned, so here I am.”

Once the hospital’s Communications and Public Affairs Specialist, Kevin Black, got ahold of the information, a few phone calls were made and they managed to involve three local businesses in the venture as well.

The newlyweds share a masked kiss.

SUN photos

The Flower Shop at Thiessen’s donated flowers, while Lakeside Bakery donated a slab cake with ’Congratulations’ written on it. In addition, the duo of Riley and Kyle from Whiskeyjack Photography donated their time and efforts to give the couple lasting memories of their special day.

Junior’s children were all in attendance and excited to help with the celebration, while Christine’s sister-in-law and nephew, Will Cowell, presided over the wedding ceremony.

The couple have been friends for 71 years, going all the way back to elementary school.

The family gathers round the newylweds for a photo. From left are Domenic Pezzotti (Junior’s son-in-law), Nicole Pezzotti (Junior’s daughter), Crystal Bickford (Junior’s daughter), Eilleen Cowell (Christine’s sister-in-law), Joe Bickford (Junior’s son) and Will Cowell (Christine’s nephew). In front are Christine and Junior Bickford.

“We knew each other when we were kids,” said Christine. “After my husband passed away, we reconnected and in January of this year had our first official date.”

The pair wrote and recited their own vows, with both of them getting emotional during the ceremony. They finished with a promise to love each other and a kiss, then cut the cake and shared it with their family.