Grandmother celebrates wedding in ICU

Wedding gowns replaced surgical scrubs at Epworth Richmond when the hospital team helped an elderly patient celebrate her granddaughter's special day.

Freda Razos was admitted to the Melbourne private hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after COVID-19 progressed to pneumonia and then pneumonitis.

She was devastated to realise she would not be able to attend her granddaughter Anna's wedding, so the staff stepped in to help.

The ICU played host to the bridal party and family members, who visited Mrs Razos between the wedding ceremony and the reception.

The family arranged for the wedding florist to deliver a corsage to Mrs Razos for the special day, provided bonbonnieres, and ensured she could stream the ceremony live from her hospital bed.

Epworth nurses shared in the excitement, with Kahlia and Loren creating a wedding archway using IV poles and fairy lights, Kalpana giving Mrs Razos' hair a blow wave, and Kim organising a special wedding meal.

Mrs Razos said even before she became unwell, she had an unexplained feeling she was not going to attend the wedding. She was thrilled to share the day with her family.

"I am very close with Anna, and it was lovely to be a part of her most special day. She looked beautiful," Mrs Razos said.

"Epworth staff did so much to decorate the room and make it special for our family."

Mother of the bride, Toni Tsalikis, said Mrs Razos and Anna shared a special bond.

"Mum was cheering Anna on and waving at the screen while she was watching the ceremony, she felt a part of our special day," she said.

"It had been a traumatic week in the lead-up to the wedding, but the Epworth nurses went above and beyond for Mum.

"Our family is indebted to the staff at Epworth Richmond ICU; they have been remarkable. The level of care was second to none."

Mrs Razos has since made incredible progress and been transferred to the ward to complete her recovery.

A keen baker, she asked her daughter Toni to deliver a selection of homemade Greek sweets to thank the Epworth Richmond ICU team.

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