Beatrix Heldner and Uwe Jacob have been regular visitors to the Sternenbrücke since 2007; they come here for respite care with their two children, Gian-Luca, who suffers from the terminal illness mucopolysaccharidosis, and his sister Yara, to gain new strength for their daily care routine. This time, they came here for a special reason: after 20 years as a couple, they fulfilled their and their children's wish to get married – in the place where over the past few years they were given loving and professional help and support. Because the ceremony was held at the Sternenbrücke, both their daughter and their son, under the care of the nursing staff, were able to attend the ceremony. This big dream they had could only come true in this way.
A wedding at the Sternenbrücke
The ceremony began at 2 p.m.: In the festively decorated garden of the Sternenbrücke the bride and groom sealed their union underneath a rainbow built by the groom. Their sick son Sohn Gian-Luca presented the wedding rings with help from the nurses – a very touching moment. There was another special moment when their daughter Yara and her friend, an orphaned sibling, picked up their guitars and sang a song for the newly-weds.
Hospice manager Ute Nerge was happy that the Sternenbrücke was able to help the family on this special occasion and presented the couple with two white doves, which they joyfully released into the sky.
The affected families who were at the Sternenbrücke at the time and orphaned families, friends of the parents who came especially for the occasion, made the ceremony very touching and special – as did an orphaned father who witnessed the marriage.
Once again we learnt that wishes that can easily be fulfilled when you live a healthy life require the help of many hands to come true when you have a terminally ill child. It was our pleasure to make the dream of the Jacob family come true and to be able to give them such wonderful memories.