Sam Jamieson and Janet Harraway, with their 2-day-old son
Will Jamieson moments before their marriage at Dunedin
Hospital on Saturday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
An early arrival pushed a wedding out a day and into the
chapel of Dunedin Hospital.
Dunedin resident Sam Jamieson was set to marry Janet Harraway
at the Registry Office on Friday, have photos taken in the
Botanic Garden, before a dinner with friends and family at a
Dunedin restaurant.
But on Monday, his 35-weeks pregnant fiancee was admitted to
Dunedin Hospital with pre-eclampsia, a disorder during
pregnancy in which a rapid rise in blood pressure can cause
seizure, stroke, organ failure and death of the mother and
baby.
After a terrible few days, he and the couple's son Rowan
Jamieson (4) were pleasantly surprised by an announcement
from a nurse on Thursday.
"They said 'You're having a baby today' and I was like
'What?'."
A few hours later, Will Jamieson was born five weeks early.
Family and friends had flights from Christchurch, Wellington
and Brisbane booked, so the couple decided to get married in
the hospital chapel on Saturday.
Mr Jamieson said everything had worked out well and although
Will was in intensive care, he and his wife would be fine.
"The hospital staff have been amazing and so accommodating to
make this happen."
Hospital chaplin Wendy Knauf said there had been about 90
weddings in the hospital since the chapel was built but most
ceremonies were in wards because the bride or groom were too
sick to move.
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