Erin Finlay, Gary Coburn, "Gram" Karin Colburn, Thomas McKeown and Carlee Coburn pose for a photo at a surprise wedding celebration at Providence Care Hospital in Kingston, ON.
It's not every day you see a stunning bride and groom walk the halls of Providence Care Hospital.
But that's exactly what took place when bride Carlee Coburn and her family decided to bring her wedding to her grandmother, fondly known as “Gram", after the 86-year-old couldn't travel to the planned ceremony and reception that took place in Ottawa. Pulling off an epic wedding surprise took some careful planning and on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 it was successfully executed on a beautiful, sunny afternoon on the grounds of Providence Care Hospital, overlooking Lake Ontario.
“Here I thought I was going to miss everything. Oh my, it's the best surprise ever! I am overjoyed," says Karin Coburn, after her initial shock and speechlessness wore off.
In August, Karin suffered a severe stroke that led to left-side paralysis and also affected her swallowing, requiring a feeding tube. Karin's son Gary Coburn says his mom was very active in her retirement residence prior to the stroke and went to Florida each winter. The stroke was devastating for Karin and the entire family.
“We were hoping that mom was going to be able to go to the wedding. That was her main goal. As the weeks slipped by, we realized she wouldn't be able to, especially with the feeding tube and transportation logistics. So we said mom, we are going to try and get as many pictures as possible for you. But that's when my daughter Carlee said 'we are going to see Gram before we leave for our honeymoon, we have time'", explains Gary.
From there, the family decided they would do more than just visit Gram after the wedding and show photos. They planned a small wedding re-creation that would see Gary and Carlee walk down an outdoor aisle together to her new groom Thomas, complete with their first daughter/father dance song playing on the speaker.
“I actually brought a dozen butter tarts to the staff working on the unit [Lakeview 1] and I asked them if they could please help us get mom ready. Help her get into a dress and such. I have such big respect for PSW's and nurses, I really do. I said I know you are busy, but do you think you could snap a few pictures too? It was two days before the wedding that the social worker Panja called me to touch base to finalize the details. Panja told me she contacted the Communications department who could take some professional photos for us. It was absolutely wicked," explains Gary.
The plan the family formulated involved Gary's girlfriend Erin talking Karin into getting dressed up doing her hair and make-up. Karin thought the two of them were getting fancy for a girls' day since she had been in the hospital for a few months and needed a change of scenery.
Erin wheeled Karin downstairs to the beautiful grounds overlooking Lake Ontario, where the groom, Thomas, was standing in his suit waiting. When Gary and Carlee walked down the aisle, Karin realized what was happening
"When I was walking down, I told Carlee that I'd have to hold it together because I was starting to break down a bit seeing mom waiting for us. She never suspected a thing. It turns out when Carlee and I were walking down the aisle, mom said to Erin 'Did you know about this?'" says Gary.
The look on everyone's face when Gary walked Carlee down the aisle was truly priceless and incredibly heart-warming. Emotions ranged from laughter to tears, in this epic surprise that truly caught Karin off guard.
"Mom said 'you guys really made my day.' She was very, very happy," explains Gary “It was sheer delight. The look on her face said it all. I just feel so impressed with everyone that made this happen. We are so happy this was done for our family," says Gary.
The staff on Providence Care Hospital's Lakeview 1 unit went above and beyond to make the Coburn family's dream a reality. From the very first moment Gary reached out for help, the team's commitment to Karin's well-being and the family's wishes shone through.
Social worker Panja Mathis reflected on the significance of the moment.
"This is a perfect example of person-centered care, where every step of the process was tailored to meet not only Karin's unique needs and wishes, but the entire family. The entire team worked together to ensure the surprise would be pulled off without a hitch. This day was a reflection of what Providence Care is all about — ensuring that our patients, no matter their circumstances, are surrounded by love, support, and moments that matter to them most."
Karin's care team was able to take a heart-breaking situation of missing her granddaughter's wedding and turn it into a beautiful celebration of love and family.
"We saw an opportunity to make this happen so that mom could be involved in some way and Providence Care helped make it happen," says Gary.
The finishing touch was Carlee and Thomas gifting Gram her wedding bouquet, which was hand-made by her with artificial flowers. The bouquet is a beautiful addition to Gram's hospital room, complete with the something old and borrowed being Karin's late husband's RCMP badge.
With the unwavering support of the Lakeview 1 team and a devoted family determined to ensure Gram didn't miss the moment, this surprise wedding will become a treasured memory —one that will be cherished for years to come.
Would you like to make a difference in the lives of patients, clients and residents? The University Hospitals Kingston Foundation relies on the generous support of our community to provide our patients and their families with innovative and compassionate care that is close to home. Visit uhkf.ca to learn more.