Cancer patient weds bride in hospital before brain surgery

Ron Clarke and Stephanie Powell were married in an unusual setting Thursday.

They tied the knot surrounded by family and friends at Windsor Regional Hospital.

Clarke has a brain tumour. He is scheduled to have his third surgery Friday. He and his new bride are hoping it will prolong his life.

Clarke and Powell met on June 13 2001. The 13th is also the date in October 1962 when Clarke was born, and the couple had planned to wed on the 13th anniversary of the day they met, next June 13.

Those plans changed with the devastating news of Clarke’s cancer diagnosis in early July of this year.

Clarke said just after his wife put their three young kids to bed, the left side of his body went numb and his head slumped to the side. He was immediately rushed from their LaSalle home, west of Windsor, to hospital. Two days later, diagnostic scans revealed a tumour the size of a golf ball in Clarke’s head.

Given the date of his most recent surgery, and without knowing his cognitive abilities following Friday's procedure, Clarke and Powell decided Tuesday night to finally hold their wedding ceremony this week.

The video is their story in their own words.