Terminally ill cancer patient with weeks to live has his dying wish of marrying his children’s mother fulfilled after wedding registrars donned PPE to marry couple in their home
- Christine Meaney, 60, and Desmond Codona, 59, tied the knot at their home
- Desmond was told in April that he could have weeks left to live due to cancer
- Couple got married two days after contacting registrars in Middlesbrough
- Registrars Dawn and Sarah attended the couple’s home wearing PPE
A terminally ill groom was able to fulfil his dying wish of getting married after being given just weeks to live, after wedding officials agreed to don PPE to marry him at his home.
Christine Meaney, 60, and Desmond Codona, 59, who live in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, were given special permission to marry at their home two days after the family contacted the local council’s registrar team.
Desmond had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was tragically told in April that he could have just weeks left to live.
During lockdown he told the children that he had always wanted to marry their mother, but the time had never been right. The coupe’s daughter Suzi then contacted Middlesbrough Council’s principal registrar Dawn Galloway, who made his wish come true.
Christine Meaney, 60, and Desmond Codona, 59, (pictured) who live in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, were able to get married at their home, after wedding registrars agreed to wear PPE
Weddings are currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, but after a risk assessment it was decided an emergency plan could be put into place to fulfil the family’s wish.
On Thursday April 30, with the legal paperwork done, registrar Dawn and her deputy Sarah Teece attended the Hemlington home in plastic gowns and visors to marry the couple.
Speaking about the special moment, Christine said: ‘They were absolutely exceptional.
‘I know it’s a cliche but they put their lives on the line to do something really good and kind. We are over the moon that they could do it.
‘Des has always wanted us to be married but the time has never been right.
Dawn Galloway said they are looking at applications on an individual case by case basis, in this stance they felt it was something that they could do. Pictured: Dawn and Deputy Principal Registrar Sarah Teece
‘He had been talking to our children Suzi, Michael and Katie… and Suzi got in touch with Dawn and it spiralled pretty quickly – that was on Tuesday and on Thursday we were married. It was very surreal.
‘Dawn and Sarah and they were absolutely fantastic from start to finish.
‘They made us feel really at ease and relaxed and it was the best we could possibly hope for.’
She continued: ‘We are both on cloud nine. Des is absolutely buzzing, it has really given him a lift. It has really picked him up and that has made me feel a lot better. It’s given him a real boost.’
CDC: WHAT IS SOCIAL DISTANCING?
Also called ‘physical distancing,’ according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) it means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home.
It’s recommended as COVID-19 cases can spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs.
To practice social or physical distancing, the CDC recommends the following:
- Avoid large and small gatherings in private places and public spaces
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
- Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people even when you wear a face covering
- Avoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis
- Use mail-order for medications
- Use grocery delivery service
- Work from home
- Use digital/distance learning
Speaking about having his dying wish fulfilled, the groom added: ‘It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. The staff who came round were fantastic, really great.’
And Dawn was equally touched by being able to be part of their moment, explaining: ‘The applications we receive during the coronavirus lockdown for emergency weddings – called a Registrar General’s Licence – are being looked at individually on a case by case basis.
‘In this instance, having spoken to the family and carried out a risk assessment we felt it was something we could do for them.
‘They are a lovely family and a lovely couple and we are really pleased that we were able to grant this wish and make it happen for them.’
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