All photos by: Ed Photography
Vieneese Stanton's date to marry the love of her life, Douglas, was set for April 2018. However, plans changed when she received news that her father, Preston Rolan, was diagnosed with acute leukemia and not given long to live.
As a result, Vieneese moved her wedding from City Hall to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center so that her father could walk her down the aisle. The beautiful moment happened on November 16. Read the full story (as submitted by Vieneese Stanton to Love What Matters) below, but grab a tissue before you do.
"This was one of the best moments of my life. This man has raised me since I was 3 years old; and now I get the chance to be there for him. My Dad was diagnosed with leukemia in February of this year. He has been in and out of the hospital, and on several medications and chemo treatments; yet nothing has seemed to work in his favor. My Dad has no immune system because of the cancer and an infection has almost completely filled his right lung. Doctors believe that in the next few weeks, my Dad will no longer be able to breathe and was only given a few weeks to live because of his air quality in his lungs.
My new husband had proposed to me earlier this year and we were planning a big wedding for next April. Given the news of my father's life expectancy (and with the help of an AMAZING nurse team), we were able to have a surprise wedding so my Dad could attend. The nurse team kept the wedding a secret from my Dad, so this whole day was a surprise to him. He thought I was going to Las Vegas to get married (no idea why he thought that, lol)! it was a such a beautiful day. The doctors are now ready to place my father on hospice, but he still has the will, the spunk, and the humor to be completely alive.
"We have both dreamed of him walking me down the aisle to my groom— and that moment finally happened. This was truly, best day of my life! 'Dad, I love you more than you know, and I am going to be by your side for every step of this process.'"
We're not crying, you're crying.