Photo:Horande Studios
Horande Studios
Jorge Palza had planned to travel from Bolivia to be able to walk his daughter down the aisle, but things changed when he hurt his back. Despite the injury, Jorge decided to visit Tatiana in Houston. He then opted to undergo a necessary back surgery while he was there.
His recovery was only supposed to last a few days, Tatiana explained toABC. She said, “We thought that it was going to be close to the wedding but it was only three days. So, we said, ‘Let’s do it.'” But complications from the first surgery led to a second procedure, which resulted in Jorge being barely able to stand or walk. Those complications meant that he would need months of strength training at a rehabilitation facility, leading him to be transferred to Memorial Hermann.
“When he was transported to Memorial Hermann, he went on an ambulance because he couldn’t move his legs or anything,” Tatiana toldFOX. She then wanted to postpone her wedding despite family traveling from abroad to attend it, but her father insisted that the show go on.
“I [said], ‘Don’t do that because people from Bolivia, from Peru, from Venezuela, from Nicaragua are coming to see us, and they already bought their tickets, so it’s going to be a loss for them,'” Jorge noted to FOX.
Tatiana Palza and her dad Jorge Palza.Horande Studios
Tatiana was insistent on her father’s attendance at the wedding, so medical workers at Memorial Hermann figured out a way for him to participate. That’s when they decided to host the event at the hospital.
Insurance rules stated that Jorge was unable to leave the facility, but with the help of occupational therapist Kendra Smart, Jorge’s regular physical therapy session was transformed into a wedding reception.
“She told us, ‘How about we make his therapy about the wedding? So, for the occupational therapy, your dad is going to get dressed, he’s going to put his suit on, his tie on, his shirt, as part of that type of therapy. And then for his physical therapy, he’s going to go down in his wheelchair,'” Tatiana said to FOX.
The ceremony took place at Memorial Hermann’s tranquility garden and gave Tatiana the opportunity to share her big moment with Jorge. All of the couple’s original guests were welcomed to attend.
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source: people.com
