A cancer-stricken Chinese woman has had her greatest wish granted after walking down the aisle in a beautiful wedding dress – despite having no groom.
Yang Chunyan, who has leukaemia, said she had always wanted a big white wedding, but she feared she might not live long enough to have her long-desired ceremony.
The 21-year-old expressed her wish in her sick bed to her brother, who arranged the emotional nuptials for her with help from medical staff and charity workers.
Dream comes true: Leukaemia patient Yang Chunyan attends a special wedding in China
Important moment: The 21-year-old had the nuptials without a groom to realise her life dream
Full of hope: Ms Yang was diagnosed with cancer last month and feared she couldn’t live long
Ms Yang, who is undergoing chemotherapy, appeared at the special ceremony wearing a jet-black wig.
The ceremony was held in the Wulong People’s Hospital in Chongqing, south-west China, on January 20.
Ms Yang’s makeup was done by members from the local Zhenshanmei Volunteer Association. The charity organisation had also arranged a bridal gown and wedding cake for the young woman.
Happy bride: Ms Yang is accompanied by the wedding host as she walks down the aisle
Well-wishers: Medical staff and volunteers crowded the hall as they attended the ceremony
Wish granted: Ms Yang had always wished to wear a wedding dress, especially after falling ill
Ms Yang held a bouquet of flowers as she walked down a romantic pink carpet towards the stage, witnessed by doctors, nurses, volunteers and well-wishers. She was accompanied by the wedding host.
The wedding host said: ‘Chuanyan, we send you the best wishes for your life!’
The happy bride then cut the wedding cake with charity workers.
Ms Yang, a Wulong-native, was diagnosed with leukaemia a month ago after fainting in a motel room in the nearby Panzhihua city, according to The Paper, citing Chongqing Evening News.
She comes from a less-fortunate family and was trying to look for work in Panzhihua when she made the discovery.
Sibling love: She told her wish to her brother, who arranged the wedding with local volunteers
Strong-willed: Ms Yang said the help from kind strangers has given her courage and hope
The woman signs a piece of paper as she agrees to donate her organs after the wedding
Apparently, the woman didn’t expect her illness could be treated because of her poor financial situation, according to the report.
She reportedly said: ‘I couldn’t bear to leave my family and this world.’
Ms Yang told Bjnews that she was married, but she and her partner never had a wedding. What’s more? Her partner disappeared after finding out she got cancer.
At the beginning of January, Ms Yang’s brother, who lived in another city, came to see Ms Yang in the hospital. He asked her what she would like him to do, Ms Yang said her biggest wish was to wear a wedding dress.
Her brother contacted Zhenshanmei Volunteer Association for help, and the ceremony was arranged.
Ms Yang said ever since she found out she had cancer, she had been thinking of donating her organs after she passes away.
At the end of the ceremony, Ms Yang officially agreed to the donation in writing and was given a certificate. She said it was her best ‘wedding gift’.
Speaking to Bjnews after the wedding, Ms Yang said while lying in her hospital bed: ‘So many kind people are helping me. They let me see hope and give me courage.
‘No matter my treatment is successful or not, I wouldn’t feel scared.’