Shropshire hospital patient is married - by his physiotherapist

Sally Leppanen, who works with the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries Therapy Team at Oswestry's Orthopaedic Hospital, also happens to act as a ceremonies officer with Shropshire Registration Service in her spare time.

While working with patient Tim Mabon, 36, who suffered a spinal cord injury earlier this year, she discovered that he was engaged to his partner Dorleta Eskamendi-Gil.

Before Tim's accident they planned to marry in Spain, but afterwards decided to get married in the UK if his condition allowed.

Sally heard about their plans and set about making their dream a reality.

She said: "Initially they were going to get married in the hospital but I looked to see if Oswestry's council chamber was free for the date they wanted and it was.

"So I suggested by that point in Tim's recovery he could be able to leave the unit and get married there.

"My registrar colleagues came and took their details. After that I was allocated to officiate their wedding."

Tim and Dorleta's wedding rings were engraved with the October date, so they didn't want to postpone the ceremony.

"We had spent a year planning our marriage, albeit in Dorleta's home town in Spain," said Tim, from Gloucestershire, who suffered his injury earlier this year when he was knocked off his bike by a lorry.

"Shortly after my accident, we realised it would not be possible for me to travel, so we resigned our thoughts to not getting married this year.

"So, it was mentioned that we should discuss the possibility with Sally, as she was known to be a qualified ceremonies officer.

"She then agreed to officiate at our ceremony."

Two of the Oswestry-based hospital's health care assistants surprised the couple coming out of the registry office with confetti and a present.

When Tim and Dorleta got back to MCSI, the physiotherapy team had decorated his bedspace with balloons and handmade decorations.

"The day was amazing," Tim said. "It went so well, although we hadn't planned too much, it just evolved into a fantastic occasion.

"We invited only close friends to the ceremony, this included Darren Edwards, a current patient that I have become great friends with. It was even better that our registrar was Sally."

Sally never thought that her two different roles would ever coincide.

She said: "I thought they would be completely separate things. So it was so nice to be part of the planning stages as well as marry them.

"I think love endures all sorts of things and Tim and Dorleta are a great team. It makes me appreciate my roles more and the stories behind my patients."