Hospital wedding brightens a mother’s last days

People remember Clark Lake resident Doretta Shewman-Turk for “her strong faith and how she made them feel loved,” said her daughter, Jasmine. “With her infectiously joyous spirit, it is not surprising that Mom inspired others throughout her cancer journey.”

Despite her diagnosis of stage four esophageal cancer, Doretta looked forward to attending Jasmine’s upcoming marriage to Clark Seefeld in September. Preparations for the wedding were underway when Doretta’s fragile health took a turn for the worse, and she was admitted to the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital in February. An Emergency physician shared the heartbreaking news that nothing further could be done for Doretta, and he advised Jasmine to call her two brothers in from Chicago and Auburn Hills to come and say goodbye.

Determined to have her mother see her get married, Jasmine took fast action. With the help of Henry Ford Hospice nurse Joy Gebhardt and her team, Jasmine planned an impromptu wedding at the Hospital. Joy created a beautiful white wedding bouquet as care team members decorated Doretta’s room for the ceremony. “They happened to choose navy and rose gold, the colors I had chosen for my September wedding,” said Jasmine.

“The Hospice team graciously welcomed my family into Mom’s hospital room, including my stepfather, two brothers and their wives, my niece, my stepsister and stepbrother and two aunts. My best friend of 20 years joined us via FaceTime,” Jasmine said. One of the nurses gave Jasmine a mother and child pin as her “something new” and a devotional journal as “something borrowed.”

Officiating the ceremony was Cyle Young, pastor of Heart of the Lakes Church in Brooklyn, Michigan. Worship Pastor Cody Morehead came along and brought his guitar. “We are a musical family and, somehow, my brother Eric and I were able to sing hymns with Cody,” Jasmine said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”

According to Doretta’s last wish, the family took her back to the sanctuary of her Clark Lake home to be among her gardens, her bird feeders and the Sandhill Cranes. “Hospice made it possible for us to manage Mom’s pain, so she was able to pass from this life peacefully,” Jasmine said.

“I will always be grateful for the compassion and support of the Henry Ford Hospice caregivers. I believe that when I share this experience with others, it helps them to understand God’s love in a different way. His timing is always perfect,” Jasmine said.