Hospital Plans Surprise Wedding in Under 36 Hours

Staff at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in San Diego orchestrated a remarkable feat of compassion, planning and executing an outdoor wedding for a patient and his fiancée in under 36 hours.

Eric Nunez, the groom-to-be, was admitted to the hospital on October 26th following emergency surgery for severe back pain and spinal nerve compression. Originally planning a small ceremony in his room on November 6th, Eric's request was elevated by hospital leadership into a full-scale event.

Volunteers and staff collaborated, securing flowers from a local Trader Joe's and using personal wedding décor. The engineering team constructed a platform with a wheelchair ramp, while physical therapists helped Eric prepare to stand. The Patient Experience team provided a cake, music, and sound equipment for the emotional ceremony attended by over 40 guests.