Cancer-hit couple recreate a wonderful wedding day
Goodna residents Ian and Susan McDonald had planned to renew their vows
on their golden wedding anniversary in two years’ time, but when Ian was
diagnosed with terminal cancer this possibility seemed unlikely.
In the midst of the diagnoses, Ian’s daughter Shantelle had hatched a
plan.
“Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May. He isn’t a candidate
for surgery so he has 18 months, if we are lucky, to live,” she said.
“This is when I came up with the idea to have a surprise renewal of
their vows for their 48th wedding anniversary.”
Shantelle used her upcoming 40th birthday celebrations as a
ruse to have family and friends gathered together at the Robelle Parklands in Springfield last week where guests, a wedding celebrant and
a professional photographer were waiting to surprise the unsuspecting couple.
On the photographer’s cue Shantelle produced the wedding
bouquet.
“Mum looked at it and asked what it was, and I said, ‘It’s
for your wedding renewal, you’re getting married today!’” she said.
“We walked over to where friends and family had gathered. My
Mum said she was recognising people’s faces and yet not really clicking as to
why they were there until she finally realised it was for them.”
The couple, originally from England, could only afford a
simple ceremony 48 years ago at a local registry office followed by a dinner
out alone.
Susan said that last week’s emotional vow renewal had been
everything that her first wedding wasn't, with the surprise including a big
reception with family and friends and of course, a wedding cake.
“It was wonderful to see the fact working on the surprise had helped to
bring our daughters closer together,” Susan said.
“It was an amazing day. We both loved it so much.”
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