75-year-old marries his 74-year-old sweetheart in the ICU despite COVID-19 and cancer

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 4, 2022. It has since been updated.

It's never too late to profess your love. An intensive care unit at a Las Vegas hospital hosted a wedding as a 75-year-old patient married his longtime sweetheart. Eddie D. and Patricia M. were first married in the 1970s, before divorcing a year later. They kept in touch and always had a soft spot for one another. As fate would have it, the pair were reunited about five years ago. They moved in together but had no plans to get married again. As Eddie was battling coronavirus at the hospital ICU, he wanted to make things official. Eddie, who was suffering from cancer, texted Patricia, 74, asking if there was any way they could get married again and she was just as excited as well, reported Fox5Vegas.    

The incident happened at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas. Talking about their first marriage and divorce, Patricia said, "We were young and stupid. We divorced in a year but maintained contact over the years," she said. They got divorced and had separate families. They had always kept in touch but it was five years ago that they finally reconnected. “Happy Birthday to my favorite ex-husband,” she sent a note to Eddie on his birthday and he stopped by her home to take her out to dinner. They moved in together in 2017 after buying a new house together in Las Vegas. “We never really thought about getting married (again),” said Patricia, who's a retired nurse.

Eddie, who's an army veteran with 33 years of service, was diagnosed with cancer in October 2022. He suffered a bacterial pneumonia infection and caught COVID-19, for which he was admitted to the ICU at the hospital. "Despite his ailments and being on BiPap, Eddie is alert, of sound mind and aware of what is going on," said the hospital. Patricia wasn't able to visit Eddie on account of coronavirus precautions. Eddie texted Patricia and asked her to marry him. The hospital's administration understood what was at stake and signed off and approved the in-person visit. “We hope this day was an unforgettable experience for Eddie and Patricia,” said MountainView Hospital CEO Julie Taylor. “This is proof that love prevails and that people are stronger together and that there are joyful moments amidst the challenges.

"The usual sounds in the ICU were broken by sounds of I Do as a patient with COVID and his long-time sweetheart tied the knot. Eddie D. and Patricia M. were first married in the 70s. Now, 74 and 75 years old, respectfully, they realized if not now, when?" read the caption of the Instagram post by MountainView Hospital. The wedding was officiated by Kylee H., who stood at the door, with it cracked so everyone could hear. The room had been decorated with artificial flowers by the nurses, who also made a bouquet of blue flowers for Patricia to hold. Wedding music played from a cellphone propped up on a crash cart.

A team of clinicians had worked to set Eddie up on the bed for the ceremony. Chief of Medicine Dr. Jacqueline King acted as the couple’s witness on the paperwork. The ceremony was short, with onlookers from throughout the hospital at the ICU joining in. The hospital held a short ceremony and Patricia left the room as they said their "I do's." The hospital later confirmed that Eddie passed away from coronavirus complications. "It is with great sadness that we share that Eddie passed away on January 28, with his family by his side," read the statement.