A Heartwarming Wedding at Mass. General

BOSTON —   It’s not often one encounters a touching love story within the four walls of a hospital. Recently however, several members of the Heart Failure/Cardiac Transplant Program and the Cardiac Step Down Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital were witnesses to the culmination of a poignant relationship between cardiac patient Steve Greenstein, age 65, and his longtime partner, Nancy.

Steve, who has been an inpatient on Ellison 10 awaiting a heart transplant since November 2009, married Nancy on December 26 in a ceremony held in the unit’s solarium, which the bride had decorated with flowers. Approximately 15 of the couple’s family members, friends, and Steve’s caregivers attended the event.

The newlyweds met back in 1998 through relatives, and soon afterward began dating. When Steve was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in 2003, Nancy learned of her own health care crisis — she had stage II breast cancer.

“We took care of each other through it all,” Nancy said. “Steve was sick, and I was sick, but together we got through it.” Nancy has been in remission for five years.

“Steve has gone through so much with Nancy right by his side,” said Marc Semigran, MD, director of the MGH Heart Failure/Cardiac Transplant Program.

“Over Thanksgiving he was on a ventilator, and he nearly died. When he woke up and realized he was waiting for a heart transplant, it was then that he decided he didn’t want to wait to get married. Nancy made it all happen right here in the solarium within a week.”

Kimberly Parks, DO, added, “It was beautiful to see Steve vibrant enough to stand up and go through the ceremony and make this commitment to Nancy. He’s persevered through this illness. It’s wonderful that he had that kind of support from his family and friends. What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays and his life and commitment to his new wife.”

Of his marriage to Nancy, Steve could not be happier. “She’s my sweetheart and my sunshine,” he said. “I just thank all of the doctors and nurses here at Mass General for saving my life. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. I’m a very lucky man to be here and to have such a wonderful wife.”

This article originally appeared in MGH Hotline, a publication for employees and staff of the Massachusetts General Hospital. It is reprinted with permission.