Despite being diagnosed with a serious illness last December, Gabriel wanted nothing more than to marry his love, Shula. Thanks to the MDA Wish Ambulance, his wish came true.
The happy couple met when Gabriel’s sister married Shula’s brother; Gabriel and Shula have been together for more than 17 years and live together in Rosh HaAyin. Over the years, the couple has united their children and grandchildren into a big family.
“We always wanted to formalize our relationship but every time we began to plan, we found a new excuse for why getting married could wait,” reflected the bride.
Last December, Gabriel was diagnosed with a serious illness. Instead of putting a damper on their relationship, the diagnosis created a sense of urgency. Gabriel, 68, proposed to Shula, 63, in a romantic video he made with the help of Shula’s grandson.
As soon as MDA learned about Gabriel and Shula’s story, the MDA Wish Ambulance team volunteered to help the couple fulfill their wish. The MDA Wish Ambulance team, led by paramedic Anat Granot and senior paramedic Guy Gutlansky, picked Gabriel up from his home, dressed in a festive outfit for his wedding. The MDA team accompanied him throughout the wedding, ensuring his medical needs, and brought him home afterwards as a married man.
The MDA Wish Ambulance program fulfills the requests of patients with serious illnesses and with limited mobility due to health concerns. “It was exciting to help Gabriel stand under the chuppah and exchange rings with Shula despite his difficult health condition,” said paramedics Granot and Gutlansky. “This is precisely the goal of the Wish Ambulance, to make wishes come true for sick and injured people.”
In an emotional wedding ceremony, Shula wore a white wedding dress and Gabriel broke a glass, their marriage opening up a second chapter in their relationship.
“The amazing MDA Wish Ambulance made our dream come true. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” gushed the newlyweds. “We have many more wishes and dreams to fulfill together and we will do so as a married couple.”
