A picture of true love. Tennessee natives Caleb and Bethany had been planning for an October wedding, but Caleb Hanby had been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare jaw cancer — the year before, and his prognosis became terminal, The Tennessean reports.
When Caleb’s terminal condition worsened, the pair moved up their wedding date to Sept. 24, holding an emotional ceremony from inside the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The sweetest wedding you ever did see!! Mr. & Mrs. Hanby 9.24.15
Posted by Brittney Woodard on Thursday, 24 September 2015
In front of their parents and a staff of nurses — one of whom served as a flower girl — Caleb and Bethany committed themselves to one another. The pair’s friend Brittney Woodward posted a 10-minute video of the moving service on Facebook, writing, “The sweetest wedding you ever did see!! Mr. & Mrs. Hanby 9.24.15.”
Though there was plenty of talk of pain and heartache, the bride, 26, wrote her own vows to her future husband, 28, professing her love for him in the final days of his life.
“Hey handsome,” she began. “I can honestly say that I’ve waited for this day my entire life — the day I get to become your wife. How lucky am I that you chose me to spend your life with? You are the light of my life. You’ve taught me more about love in this last year than I ever thought was possible. You complete me and you will always hold the biggest piece of my heart. I’m honored to have you as my husband. No matter how much time we have together, you will always be the love of my life. I love you forever.”
The couple kissed, were pronounced man and wife, and their family cheered for them. Sadly, Caleb passed away just one week later on Oct. 1. The Tennessean notes that Caleb was “surrounded by his family, friends, and new wife.”
Watch their beautiful wedding now.