Portsmouth woman thanks volunteer who helped her marry her husband at QA Hospital

Grateful Vivienne Wilson from Portsmouth said family liaison officer volunteer Leane Stevenson went ‘above and beyond’ to ensure she could marry her husband David with just 24 hours’ notice.

David, 61, came into hospital with a suspected stroke this year but received the devastating news that he had tumours on his brain.

Leane helped support the pair with the diagnosis and was determined to make the couple’s last dream of getting married come true – before he died a while later.

Vivienne, 58, said: ‘We weren’t sure if he had days or weeks to live. One of his dying wishes was for him and myself to be married and this is where we met Leane in the hospital who took all our worries away.

‘Leane came down to help us with some paperwork and from the moment we met her she became everything we needed.

‘Nothing was too much trouble and she spent hours on the phone organising the wedding and helping to find my decree absolute from my divorce which, in the state I was in, I just couldn’t find. She even delivered some documents to my house that we needed.

‘The wedding was just lovely and she had organised flowers, the registrars and a cake. She truly went above and beyond and we will never forget what Leane did for us.’

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As a result of her work Leane, who joined the hospital at the start of the pandemic, was shortlisted for volunteer of the year in this year’s Helpforce Champions Awards 2021 – although she did not win.

She said: ‘That was one of the biggest privileges of my life, being involved in someone’s very special day. I started ringing round and spoke with the patient, spoke with the bride-to-be and started putting things in place.’

Volunteer manager Caroline O’Connor, who nominated Leane for the award, added: ‘She is the most compassionate and wonderful volunteer and we are thrilled she has been shortlisted.

‘She is an asset to our amazing volunteer team.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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