HOUSTON -- Morrissia Sauer only wanted a few more moments of happiness in her final days, and on Saturday the hospice patient received the gift she d wanted most of all -- a trip down the aisle of Houston s Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart with her husband by her side.
Sauer, who we profiled last month, is receiving care at her Richmond home from Silverado Hospice. She suffers from congestive heart failure and doctors have given her only months to live. Social workers often recommend that their ill patients pencil a bucket list. And Sauer s was filled mostly with more personal wishes like reconciling with her children and making her peace with God.
But the biggest request was to have a real church wedding with her husband Johnny. They were married by a justice of the peace eight years ago. But Sauer, a devout Catholic, wrote in her bucket list that she wanted a wedding recognized by the church.
On Saturday employees of Silverado hospice made it happen.
The Co-Cathedral in downtown Houston normally has a year-and-a-half wait to book a wedding but church staff informed her December 14th was open.
Hospice Chaplain Deacon Daniel Addis works at the Co-Cathedral and was able to coordinate the event. His daughter provided the organ music and solos.
Tina Greer of Tina s Salon saw Morrissia s story and donated styling and makeup services.
Heather Ingram of Imagine That Pix donated her wedding photography services after seeing Morrissia s story on Facebook.
Dacapo s Bakery in the Heights donated the wedding cake. A receptionist for Silverado Senior Living is also a professional florist who donated bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and a display for the reception.
Kim Hinojosa with Colonial Oaks Sugar Land donated 30 poinsettias to decorate the tables at the reception.
And Silverado Hospice employees donated their time to set up the reception and coordinate the wedding.
Everything I've been waiting on, said Morrissia of the event. I'll be solidified with God and my husband. And I'm just happy it's here.
This is a lot more than I anticipated, said her husband Johnny Sauer. I just thought we were going to have a simple little ceremony and it kind of snowballed on us. And I m very appreciate and grateful.
Oh it's phenomenal, said Morrissia. Last of my bucket list -- it's great.
When we first met Morrissia, her advice to the rest of us was to never waste a minute. Live every day like it is your last.
And that's the last lesson she left us with as she walked down the aisle. Her pastor told her love is eternal. But she showed us all how you should walk with purpose knowing thattime in life s aisle is finite for us all.
