A female minister married an expectant couple from her hospital bed – just hours before she went into labor.
Only hours from giving birth to her third child, Sushma Dwivedi, 37, overheard a couple in an adjacent room of her New York hospital saying how desperate they were to wed.
And despite the fact she had just had her epidural administered at the Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, Sushma volunteered her services.
Couple Brianna Doyle and Case Walko, who had been together for 10 years, said yes and quickly made their way to Sushma’s ward.
Quipping ‘with the power invested in me by the internet’, the soon-to-be mum of two solidified the couple’s bond with the traditional ‘I do’ vows, before the pair kissed to rapturous applause.
Sushma was ordained a minister in 2014 in the hope of assisting Indian LGBTQ couples who wanted to marry.
This was Sushma’s first time officiating a wedding and it was completed with a poetry reading from one of the nurses and a bouquet toss.
Sushma hopes her random act of kindness will inspire her children to ‘choose love, kindness and empathy’.
The mother, who works as a PR manager, said: ‘I was thrilled to be a part of this couple’s wedding.
Sushma poses with the Walkos after officiating their impromptu wedding at Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York
‘It was important for me to help them as soon as I heard the story. Brianna’s water had broken unexpectedly and who wants the added stress of trying to get married too?
‘To me, this felt like a life defining moment to help to show my soon-to-be-born son that whenever he has the opportunity, to choose love, kindness and empathy and to help someone else out, no matter how big or small [the gesture].
‘This was a non-traditional wedding, but the room was still filled with so much love.
‘The hospital staff made Brianna a bouquet, styled her hair and made the room festive. One of the nurses even wrote a poem.
‘There was a beautiful energy to it all – perfect for a wedding and introducing new life into the world.’

Giving birth for the third time: Baby Nayan (pictured) was born just four hours after the service

Vivek (pictured), who took the heart-warming video, is all smiles as he poses with his newborn daughter Nayan
Just four hours after the service Sushma gave birth to Nayan, and two hours after that Brianna gave birth to baby girl Riley.
After joking that their children ‘should date’ in the future, the Walko’s exchanged details with Sushma and her husband Vivek Jindal, with the hope of meeting up in the future.
Sushma set up Purple Pundit Project two years ago to assist Indian weddings for gay couples.

Sushma was ordained in 2014 so she could assist Indian LGBTQ couples. Pictured: Vivek, Sushma and their two-year-old son, Ashwi

Quipping ‘with the power invested in me by the internet’, the soon-to-be mum of two solidified the couple’s bond. Pictured: Vivek and Sushma shortly before their second child was born
She said: ‘Brianna and Casey were so gracious and appreciative.
‘The whole experience was totally surreal – I couldn’t have been happier to have been a part of it all.
‘I gave birth to Nayan four-and-a-half hours later and Brianna followed with Riley just a few hours after.
‘We’ve been in touch since it all happened, mostly to trade mom tips and chat.
‘I can’t wait to officiate my next wedding.’