How did Shannon survive the medical emergency?

Shannon required two rounds of CPR, 64 units of blood, and three emergency surgeries, including a C-section and hysterectomy. Doctors called her survival "nothing short of miraculous," as she was one of only around 150 documented cases of this type of medical emergency.

What did Shannon and Bern do after the tragedy?

Despite the loss of their twins, Shannon and Bern decided to move forward with their wedding plans, tying the knot in the hospital's labor and delivery wing just days after the harrowing ordeal. They are now focusing on healing and pursuing their dream of parenthood through surrogacy.

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Bride-to-Be Survives Rare Pregnancy Complication, Marries in Hospital

Q: What happened to Shannon and Bern's wedding plans?

Shannon and Bern had planned to surprise their wedding guests with the news that they were expecting identical twin boys conceived through IVF, but Shannon was hospitalized with a rare pregnancy complication that nearly claimed her life.

16 Nov

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Summary

Couple planned to announce twin pregnancy at their wedding
Bride hospitalized with ruptured aneurysm, lost twins, required CPR and multiple surgeries
Couple married in hospital days later, now pursuing surrogacy

Bride-to-Be Survives Rare Pregnancy Complication, Marries in Hospital

In August 2025, Shannon Hackett, 40, and Bernard "Bern" Clark, 44, were just days away from their wedding in Tulsa, Oklahoma when they faced an unimaginable tragedy. The couple had planned to surprise their guests with the news that they were expecting identical twin boys conceived through IVF.

However, on August 16th, Shannon was hospitalized with severe abdominal pain when she was 14 weeks pregnant. Doctors were unable to determine the cause, but an aneurysm in one of the arteries feeding her uterus was about to rupture. The next morning, the aneurysm burst, causing Shannon to lose a massive amount of blood and go into cardiac arrest. She required two rounds of CPR, 64 units of blood, and three emergency surgeries, including a C-section and hysterectomy. Tragically, the couple's twin boys, John and William, did not survive.