CTMC Hospice Patient Receives Dream Wedding

Robert notes, “My favorite things about her are her personality, her cooking, everything!”

BUDA – Central Texas Medical Center’s Hospice Care patient, Esperanza, has been receiving care since October for a diagnosis of terminal kidney disease.

She had one important wish as her health began to decline. Esperanza shared with her family that she regretted never having a wedding ceremony with her long-time love, Robert.  The couple had made a life together and raised several children together. 

The Hospice Care team organized a wedding for the pair on Thursday, November 9^th in the couple’s home, bringing all of Esperanza’s hopes to life. Generous businesses gave their time and talent to create the couple’s special day.

Pennington’s Cakes baked a special 2-tiered cake, The Bloom Bar prepared all the flowers and decorations, and Kay Wilson was the wedding photographer. Denise Grant, CTMC Hospice Care chaplain, officiated the ceremony.

CTMC Hospice Care has a long history of fulfilling final dreams for their patients. Four previous dreams were a hot air balloon ride, a trip to the San Antonio Zoo, a weekend on the San Antonio Riverwalk and a final date night in a limousine.

Esperanza and Robert met in in the 1970s at her brother’s San Antonio restaurant. Robert notes, “My favorite things about her are her personality, her cooking, everything!”

They quickly fell in love and enjoyed fishing trips to Corpus every summer. They also devoted time to their children and, eventually, more than 20 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. The family laughs that on Christmas mornings, all the children would cover the entire carpet and the adults would have to step around them

Daughter Amber recalls, “I always loved Valentine’s Day because Robert would surprise mom and me with gifts. Every year, never failed.”

Roxanne, Esperanza’s granddaughter, shared that when she was growing up, she had no idea that the man she called Grandpa wasn’t really her biological grandfather because he was very loving and he treated all of the grandchildren as his own.

Esperanza is a Washington Redskins fan, enjoys singing Christian songs in Spanish and worked as a school cafeteria aide before retiring.

The wedding day brought joy to the couple but also to the many friends and relatives who love them.