Victoria Martin – who is suffering from advanced bone cancer – got one of her wishes granted Saturday in front of family and friends.
She had her marriage vows repeated with her beloved husband of 18 years - Jerry - at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on a day where the sun chased away the rain.
Wearing a red dress and the tiara – as her husband wanted here to feel like a princess – arrived at the church in a horse drawn carriage.
They repeated their vows in ceremonies officiated by Father Patrick Walker with son Gerald , 12, and daughter Delicia, 10, as part of the wedding party.
Following the simple ceremony, the couple was whisked away in the horse drawn carriage to McParland Annex where the reception was held.
Victoria is a former yard supervisor at McParland School where her two children are students.
The McParland Community Club took the lead in planning the reception and was able to secure help from various paces including $150 from the Manteca Soroptimists.
Plans originally called for the Moose Lodge scheduled earlier in the week but with limited seating.
The Annex seemed appropriate, particularly since Victoria Martin was once the yard supervisor there.
A bone marrow matching drive was held last October in the McParland School library to help her find a match outside the family. But with or without the bone marrow transplant, Victoria said back then there were no guarantees.
Instead, she hoped to bring awareness to the bone marrow donation cause.
Victoria Martin has been battling the disease for nearly seven years.
Victoria’s cancer has since spread, with her ailing health taking a turn for the worse and hospice being called to her home. It is now stage four cancer as her tumors have spread.
Among her wishes was to renew her wedding vows with her husband.
The Community Club tried previously several times to accommodate this wish but Martin was too ill to make it to the church.
The McParland community – this includes staff and families – made possible the arrangements, furnishing a disc jockey, photographer, balloons, red runner, cake, guest book, décor and money contributions, to name a few.
In addition, friends and family of Victoria Martin flew in for the special occasion.
She had her marriage vows repeated with her beloved husband of 18 years - Jerry - at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on a day where the sun chased away the rain.
Wearing a red dress and the tiara – as her husband wanted here to feel like a princess – arrived at the church in a horse drawn carriage.
They repeated their vows in ceremonies officiated by Father Patrick Walker with son Gerald , 12, and daughter Delicia, 10, as part of the wedding party.
Following the simple ceremony, the couple was whisked away in the horse drawn carriage to McParland Annex where the reception was held.
Victoria is a former yard supervisor at McParland School where her two children are students.
The McParland Community Club took the lead in planning the reception and was able to secure help from various paces including $150 from the Manteca Soroptimists.
Plans originally called for the Moose Lodge scheduled earlier in the week but with limited seating.
The Annex seemed appropriate, particularly since Victoria Martin was once the yard supervisor there.
A bone marrow matching drive was held last October in the McParland School library to help her find a match outside the family. But with or without the bone marrow transplant, Victoria said back then there were no guarantees.
Instead, she hoped to bring awareness to the bone marrow donation cause.
Victoria Martin has been battling the disease for nearly seven years.
Victoria’s cancer has since spread, with her ailing health taking a turn for the worse and hospice being called to her home. It is now stage four cancer as her tumors have spread.
Among her wishes was to renew her wedding vows with her husband.
The Community Club tried previously several times to accommodate this wish but Martin was too ill to make it to the church.
The McParland community – this includes staff and families – made possible the arrangements, furnishing a disc jockey, photographer, balloons, red runner, cake, guest book, décor and money contributions, to name a few.
In addition, friends and family of Victoria Martin flew in for the special occasion.
