'We got to share our love': Ottawa couple marries days before bride succumbs to cancer

For months, ErikaFarringtonfilled herPinterestpage with images of three-tiered cakes, floral crownsand other DIY decorationsto match her bright personality. The 28-year-old loved planning her dream wedding to distract herself from the Stage 4 breast cancer she was battling.

After three years of chemotherapy,radiation andsurgery,Farringtonwas trying to make the most of the life she had left, determined not to let her cancer get in the way of love.

But as shescoutedout venues for her outdoor marriageceremony,Farrington'shealth suddenly took a turn for the worse. She struggled to walk andher head pounded painfully.

Looking back, we still can't believe how it all came together.- Husband Scott Ogilvie

On July 25, Farrington'sfianc, ScottOgilvie, rushed her to the emergency room at the Ottawa Hospital's General Campus,where the couplereceived devastating news Farrington's cancer had not only spread to her brain, but to her spine as well.

"The doctors made it clear this was fatal, and it would be fatal soon," saidOgilvie. "I almost wanted to throw up and faint, but I was there with her and she was obviously upset, but could handle it. She still wasn't going to give up. She looked at us and said, 'Things will still be OK.'"

Then and there, the couple decided to get married the next day. When the hospital'sER staff got wind of their decision, they stepped in and helped plan a wedding overnight.

Widower remembers magical wedding day

8 years ago

Duration 0:26

Scott Ogilvie married the love of his life a week before she died of breast cancer.

"Looking back we still can't believe how it all came together," saidOgilvie. "They showed their compassion above and beyond."

Dress shop steps in to help

Farringtonhad already picked out a custom-made gown with a hint of pink tulle to symbolize her fight with breast cancer. Unfortunately, it wasn't ready. So the hospital's ER staff started cold-calling wedding boutiques.

Clinical manager KathyBickertonreached out to With Love Bridal Boutique inKanata, and the shop agreed to help. Bickerton said store employees showed up with not one but five gowns forFarringtonto try on.

"She looked beautiful," saidBickerton. "She looked like a princess. It was unbelievable...To be able to help make that happen was something I'll never forget."

On a sun-filled evening the song I Choose Youby SaraBareilles playedas Farrington'sparents wheeled their daughter through the hospital's butterfly garden to where 30 friends and family members hadgathered.

"When I first saw her it didn't matter the circumstances," saidOgilvie. "Seeing her beautiful face, seeing her see me and her reaction, she was obviously very happy. That is a great memory, that we could share this day, her dream."

'We felt like we had escaped'

"We felt like we had escaped," saidOgilvie. "We were at our wedding,and nothing else mattered."

"It was just so nice to be able to give them a smile for a moment, ora bit of joy, or to give just that moment of maybe a normal time where it was about being a bride, being a princess for theday and not being sick," saidclinical care leader SharonJudge-Hatoum,who helped make the arrangements.

One week after the wedding, on the morning ofAug. 2,Farringtondied in hospital with her parents and husband by her side.

"Erika was such a beautiful, unique person, so brave to go through what she had to," saidOgilvie."She deserved so much more from life. I am glad that one of my last memories of her will be how beautiful and happy she was at our unique, impromptu wedding."

"That day really meant a lot to us,because despite everything, we got to share our love."

ER manager describes bringing joy to a terminally ill patient

8 years ago

Duration 0:18

Clinical care leader, Sharon Judge-Hatoum, helped a patient with breast cancer marry the love of her life outside of the hospital a week before she died.