NICU wedding

AHS staff helps couple marry at infant son's bedside

Ken and Claire Stockton had the perfect wedding, despite the fact their ring-bearer was in an incubator.

The Calgary couple were married June 26 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Foothills Medical Centre. Close by was their son, Liam Peter Stockton, who was born 14 weeks premature on May 8.

"We didn't have the heart to not have him (Liam) involved," says Ken.

The couple were wed by Rev. Dean Shingoose, a chaplain with Spiritual Care Services at the Foothills, and joined in the NICU by their parents for the ceremony.

Claire’s mom served as her matron of honour while Ken’s dad was his best man. Liam was dressed in a new outfit of a diaper, shirt and socks.

Liam, who was born weighing 1 lb. 12 oz. and has now grown to 3 lbs. 7 oz., lay on his back in his incubator next to his parents with a happy look on his face during the event.

"He was as good as gold during the whole thing," says Claire. "It was very important to us that he was there. He's an amazing little guy. He's our little fighter."The couple had originally intended to be married in July but that was scrapped when Claire became pregnant.

"It was too stressful to plan a wedding at the same time as plan for a new baby," she says. "Also, I would have been eight months pregnant and I didn't want to waddle down the aisle."

Liam's original due date was Aug. 14 but fate intervened. His parents have spent every day at his bedside since his birth and were thrilled NICU staff were able to accommodate their wedding wishes.

"Everyone is great here," says Claire. "Not only are the doctors and the nurses fantastic and amazing at what they do but everyone from the management to the unit clerks are great. This entire unit is remarkable."

Karen Foudy, manager of the NICU, was glad to be able to accommodate the Stocktons on their special day.

"The NICU practises the philosophy of family-centred care and our team was pleased to support Ken and Claire in their request to be married at their son's bedside," Foudy says.

The wedding party had to thoroughly wash to prevent the spread of germs inside the NICU before and after the ceremony, which went off without a hitch.

"It was perfect," says Claire. "We just decided with all that we've been through we needed some good things in our life. The only thing that I wished I could have done was to hold him (Liam) during the ceremony but he's not ready for that yet."

The Stocktons hope to take their son home in mid-August.