Hospital Hosts Wedding for Bride When She’s Admitted Days Before Her Nuptials with ‘Scary’ Condition

Rachel RaposasTue, August 4, 2026 at 4:51 PM UTC

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Gabriel Garcia and Adriana Pomares on their wedding day on July 31 at STHS Heart hospital.Credit: South Texas Health System -

Adriana Pomares was hospitalized days before her wedding to Gabriel Garcia

After the bride received care for a fluid buildup around her heart and lungs, the couple made the difficult choice to postpone their wedding

But they didn’t have to wait long to speak their vows, thanks to the efforts from South Texas Health System’s Heart hospital staff

Days before Adriana Pomares was set to wed her fiancé, Gabriel Garcia, she began experiencing a rapid heart rate and shortness of breath, both of which were raising “serious concerns,” according to a post from South Texas Health System. As her symptoms worsened, Garcia rushed his soon-to-be wife to the system’s McAllen hospital.

There, doctors found an abnormal buildup of fluid surrounding her heart and lungs, and transferred her to the system’s Heart hospital for further specialized medical attention, where she was diagnosed with pleural effusion.

“It was scary and definitely concerning at first,” Garcia told Mega Doctor News. “But we have a strong faith, so we took it one day at a time.”

Adriana Pomares and Gabriel Garcia on their wedding day on July 31 at STHS Heart hospital.Credit: South Texas Health System

Pomares later underwent surgery to address her condition, and with several more treatments and tests on the horizon for her, the couple realized they needed to postpone their July 25 wedding date. Garcia described the decision as “heartbreaking.”

“The wedding wasn’t just about us. It was also about bringing our families together to celebrate this important milestone,” he said. “We had planned a small ceremony, but it meant so much to all of us, so having to postpone it was difficult.”

“We just wanted to get married already,” Pomares added. “We’d been waiting so long.”

Still eager to formally declare their commitment to one another, the bride and groom devised another plan. With the help of STHS Heart, Pomares and Garcia resolved to wed at the hospital.

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The hospital’s staff mobilized quickly, determined to transform the facility’s second-floor lobby into a beautiful space for the couple to speak their vows. Photos from the intimate celebration saw white, heart-shaped balloons, a banner honoring the new Mr. and Mrs. Garcia and bridal florals throughout the space.

The wedding was just one week after their intended date, on July 31. The bride, who got to wear her whimsical wedding dress for the occasion was thrilled.

“This was so much more than I ever expected,” Pomares told Mega Doctor News. “It was such a beautiful afternoon. Seeing the nurses, doctors and staff celebrating alongside our family made it even more special.”

Gabriel Garcia and Adriana Pomares on their wedding day on July 31 at STHS Heart hospital.Credit: South Texas Health System

“To walk in and see how much effort was put into making sure our wedding was memorable and beautiful was incredibly touching,” Garcia added. “Considering everything was planned on such short notice, it meant the world to us. I’ll never forget this day or the love and happiness we experienced throughout the entire ceremony.”

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The hospital paid a special tribute to the newlyweds on Aug. 3, sharing glimpses from their heartfelt wedding day — which included a wheelchair with a “Just Married!” sign at its back, and not one but two wedding cakes for the happy couple to cut into.

“What began as a frightening medical emergency became a powerful celebration of love, resilience and hope,” STHS Heart wrote in the post. “At a hospital with ‘Heart’ in its name, there could be no more fitting place for the couple to begin their journey as husband and wife.”

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Source: “AOL Breaking”