Come Celebrate Our Marriage!

My whole world came to a stand still as my Dad battled for his life in the hospital ventilator unit. I felt terrified in the dark, cold hospital room, watching the man who raised me, my role model, my hero, my dance partner and my best friend laying in a medically induced coma, on life support. I lost track of time. It must have been two or three in the morning. As the ventilator alarm went off my Mom and I became panic stricken. His sedatives were starting to wear off too soon. I hurried over to the tall, dark and handsome man in the white lab coat whom I had first caught a glimpse of in the waiting room when my Dad was brought to the unit. I didn't even say "Hi" to Joe as I frantically told him that my Dad's sedation was wearing off. Joe was professional and prompt. Soon enough there were a few staff members in my Dad's hospital room tending to him. The last thing I was concerned about was a potential new romance. But, sure enough every night I found myself looking forward to seeing Joe, the respiratory therapist. He was courageous, professional, strong and compassionate. I was disappointed whenever he had the night off. There was an incident when my Dad's vent alarm went off and I turned around in distress, locking eyes with Joe who sprang into action to make sure my Dad was taken care of. The moment my eyes met his, I felt this intense feeling that we were soul mates. He managed to slip me his business card when my Mom asked him for his professional opinion one night. I called him on the day my Dad had his surgery to ask him about oxygen levels. He was so reassuring and comforting. I was thrilled when he asked if I wanted to go grab a cup of coffee with him later on that night. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. When my Dad was discharged and sent to a rehab center I texted Joe to let him know while I was in the ambulance with my Dad. He texted me back to say he was glad to hear that and asked me out to dinner. - Written by Lisette Grado