4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient 'Marries' Male Nurse In Ceremony At Hospital

A male nurse at the Albany (New York) Medical Center's Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer helped create some memories for a girl with leukemia. Nurse Matt Hickling "married" 4-year-old Abby in a mock ceremony arranged at the hospital.

Abby, who suffers from pre-B cell acute lymphobastic leukemia, met Hickling at the hospital and instantly shared a special bond with him. Hickling makes sure that special attention is paid to the little child and takes good care of her all the time.

Abby had told her mother a week before the ceremony that she was going to get married soon. When her mother asked who the groom would be, she replied “Matt Hickling.” Her mother immediately texted Hickling about her daughter's plan, to which Hickling responded, “We're [the hospital] planning a wedding tomorrow.”

According to Hickling's Facebook page, the hospital staff helped him organize a marriage ceremony, during which Abby and Hickling exchanged ring pops. Abby's mother tossed rose petals as the little girl walked down the aisle. Nearly the entire staff of the Melodies Center witnessed the event.

"Our patient shyly asked me to marry her," Hickling wrote on his Facebook page. "I didn't hesitate to say yes, I got a HUGE hug and we sealed the deal with ring pops being placed on our fingers!"

Apart from the candy rings, the wedding included a cake, flowers donated from a local florist and a customized toy car reading “Just Married.” After the wedding, Hickling pushed the car as Abby sat inside, before returning for a memorable photo session and cake-cutting.

"This day will hopefully be one our patient and her family can always look back on and smile when days are tough!" Hickling wrote on Facebook. "I know I will!"