He proposed in a hospital bed, then his cancer worsened: 3 days later, a 'fairy tale' wedding
WILMINGTON, Del. – When Rachel Jimenez prayed that she would meet her husband, she didn't expect that heavenly request to be granted at a poker game.
But that's where she first locked eyes with Gus Jimenez, and where they both instantly felt the stuff of Disney fairy tales.
She talked to him first, even though he wasn't her type.
Rachel, 32, had asked God to find her the kind of man who could redo her kitchen floor.
Gus, 46, owns his own construction company.
The Wilmington, Delaware, couple soon became inseparable. Gus kept jokingly proposing to her, since they both knew they had found the one.
Earlier this month, after a year of being together, Gus proposed for real – this time in a hospital bed where he is being treated for a rare form of cancer.
On Sunday, Rachel and Gus married in the atrium of ChristianaCare's Wilmington Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. The wedding was planned in three days, through the kindness of strangers, after the couple learned that Gus' cancer was getting worse.
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"We didn't dream of a wedding at a hospital, of course," Rachel said, "but it was such a fairy tale."
In August, Gus was having difficulty breathing. He eventually went to the hospital. Doctors first thought it could be pneumonia, but then discovered a tumor in his lungs. Weeks later, the diagnosis of NUT carcinoma came.
His cancer quickly spread to Gus' entire abdomen.
This aggressive cancer often appears in the middle of the body, typically the head, neck and lungs, according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The cancer is so rare that it's not clear what the incidence rate is.
But the median survival time from diagnosis is about six to seven months, according to the institute.
So when the couple got the bad news last week, they decided it was the right time to get married. Gus' mother was visiting from Colombia, his native country, and Rachel's sister was also in town.
And then a chain reaction of kindness ignited: Rachel's friend knew a manager at David's Bridal, who provided her a free dress (which she loved and which didn't need alterations). That manager then called his counterpart at Men's Warehouse, who offered to give Gus a free tuxedo rental.
The managers also had a relationship with a local florist who provided flowers. The couple's pastor was able to officiate the wedding, despite having three other services that day.
They found a photographer who donated his time. And nurses made cookies for the reception.
Several nurses also offered to officiate the wedding, Rachel said.
In a 15-minute ceremony, Rachel and Gus exchanged vows in the atrium of Wilmington Hospital. For those few minutes, Gus disconnected from the IV providing him his pain medication.
"I do," Gus said, looking at his bride. "I would be insanely crazy not to."
The couple danced to "Boat Song" for their first dance, which has the lyrics of "Oh, do you know we belong together? Do you know my heart is yours?"
Rachel danced with her father, and Gus briefly danced with his mother.
In a way, the wedding had all the traditional components, except for the setting.
"Gus loves nontraditional," Rachel said, so it was perfect for them.
Now, the couple is focusing on getting Gus back to their Wilmington home, where he can receive palliative care. The couple has chosen to live in the moment, she said, and not fear for the future.
"We're married," Rachel said, "and we're here."
Follow reporter Meredith Newman on Twitter at @merenewman.
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This article originally appeared on The News Journal: After rare cancer worsens, couple marries at ChristianaCare hospital
